Some of the world’s leading legal figures and business regulators are coming to Australia for a “think tank” to examine the impact of our shrinking, global society and the extra-territorial effect of modern legal systems.
Confirmed international speakers for the XVIth Congress of the International Academy of Comparative Law, to be held at The University of Queensland from 14 to 20 July 2002, include:
* President of the International Court of Justice – His Excellency Gilbert Guillaume
* Chief Justice of France – The Honourable Professor Guy Canivet
* Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration – His Excellency Dr Tjaco T Van den Hout
*Rector of the Francophonie Universitary Agency – The Honourable Professor Michele Gendreau-Massaloux
* Deputy Prosecutor of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia – The Honourable Graham T Blewitt
* Vice-President of the High Council of Francophonie – His Excellency Dr Emile-Derlin Zinsou
* United Nations Under Secretary-General, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia – Her Excellency Mrs Mervat Tallawy
They will join Queensland Chief Justice Paul de Jersey, former Chief Justice of Australia Sir Anthony Mason, and the Chief Justice of Victoria The Honourable Sir John Harber Phillips, as keynote speakers at the congress, which is expected to attract more than 600 legal and business delegates from around the globe.
Garrick Professor of Law, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland and Chairman of the Conference Organising Committee, Gabriël Moens, said the congress would allow delegates to look at the grassroots impacts of the application of various laws across different jurisdictions under the theme, Convergence of Legal Systems in the 21st Century.
Professor Moens said the congress would also build networks for legal and business professionals and, through discussion and debate, deliver solutions, which can be applied in day-to-day practice.
“The implications of the booming global e-economy, the almost daily advances in human reproduction techniques and the trend towards alternative dispute resolution as opposed to litigation, are just a few of the themes of this congress. They are a practical demonstration that the world we live in is getting smaller almost by the day,” he said.
“This simply reinforces the fact that law is no longer a domestic issue and there are many lessons to be learned from the experiences and examples of others.
“Comparative law is better situated and equipped than any other legal discipline to face these present challenges and carry the contribution of law in general to the problems of society and life.”
The congress host is the Australian Institute of Foreign and Comparative Law, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland. It is only the second time the congress has been held in Australia.
For further program information or Congress registration, visit the congress website or contact Trish Coyne on 61 7 3221 6711.
For further media information contact: Trish Coyne (tel. 61 7 3221 6711, 0414 182 876) or Professor Moens (tel. 61 7 3365 2220)
