Seminars and conferences

Conference on the Role of the constitution in the Transition to Democracy in Egypt

5 February, 2013

The International Commission of Jurists (Geneva-based) in cooperation with the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP) and Hisham Mubarak Law Center (HMLC) organize a Conference on “the Role of the constitution in the Transition to Democracy in Egypt”, during the period from 6^th to 7^th February 2012 in Shepheard Hotel, Cairo.

The Conference discusses several issues related to the role of constitutions in securing steady transitions to democracy; the constitution-making process; the establishment and the functioning of a Constituent Assembly; and the process of adopting the constitution and the importance of respecting the principles of inclusivity, participation, consensus and transparency. The Conference tackles the separation and balance of powers; civilian oversight over the army and security services; legislative oversight of the executive; the role, functioning and independence of the judiciary; and limitations on the scope and role of military tribunals and special courts, including guarantees of fair trials.

The conference is co- chaired by a number of experts in the field of Law and Legislation on both national and international levels, including Mr. Wilder Tayler, Secretary General- ICJ, Justice Azhar Cachalia, Judge – the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa, Raji Sourani, ICJ Commissioner and Said Benarbia, Senior Legal Adviser, ICJ.

The Conference includes a number of participants, named Justice Ahmed Mekki, Vice-presidentof the Court of Cassation, Justice Hisham Geneina, President, Cairo Appeals Court,

Judge Essam Farag, Vice President of the Court of Cassation, Prof. Mohammed Nour Farahat, Law Professor at Zagazig University, Dr. Gaber Nasser, Professor of Constitutional Law in Cairo University, Prof. Amr El Shalakani, Law Professor at the American University in Cairo, Mr. Sameh Ashour, President of the Bar Association and the Head of the Arab Lawyers Union, Mr. Ahmed Saif il Islam, Lawyer and founder of HMLC, Mr. Mahmoud Kandil, Lawyer and Human rights activist, Mr. Abdellah Khalil, Lawyer and Human rights activist, Mr. Essam Al Islamboulli, Lawyer in the supreme Constitutional Court, Ms. Mozn Hassan, the Executive Director of Nazra, Mr. Nasser Amin, Director of ACIJLP, Mr. Ahmed Ragheb, Director of HMLC, Mr. Hossam Haddad, Human rights activist in HMLC and Mr. Mina Khalil, Human rights activist in HMLC.

Announcement of the IBAHR Justice Report 2012 held at the British Bar Association – London

5 November, 2012

Mr. Nasser Amin – Lawyer and General Director of the Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession and Coordinator of the Arab Coalition of NGOs for the International Criminal Court

Ms. Amal Clooney – Lawyer, Human Rights Activist and English Writer

Recommendations on The Conference on the Egyptian independence of the judiciary between Constitutional Protection and the Judicial Authority Law

18 March, 2012

To view the recommendations, please open the link.

Conference on the Egyptian independence of the judiciary between Constitutional Protection and the Judicial Authority Law

7 March, 2012

The Arab Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (ACIJLP) organizes a conference on “the Egyptian independence of the judiciary between Constitutional Protection and the Judicial Authority Law”. The conference will be held on Saturday, 17^th March 2012.

The conference will be held shortly before the People’s Assembly’s discussion to the Judicial Authority Law and preparation for the constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The conference also comes after what was raised recently in Egypt such as the events that indicated the extent to which the breach and violation of the independence of the Egyptian judiciary and improper interference in the judiciary work.

Many judges will participate and co-chaired the sessions of the conference including Ahmed Mekki, Assem Abdel Jabbar, Zaghloul Al-balshy, Hisham Geneina, Ashraf Zahran, Hisham Rauf, Vice-President of the Court of Cassation, Mahmoud Abu Shusha, Mahmoud Mekki and Issam Tawfiq Faraj. Moreover, many human rights activists, judges, law professors, lawyers and media figures will participate in the discussion.

The Conference discusses many topics including the manifestations of interference and violation of the independence of the Egyptian judiciary, visions and perceptions in order to eliminate violation of the independence of the judiciary and the effectiveness of slow proceedings, failure to implement judicial judgments, interfering in many matters relevant to purely judicial issues starting from the appointment of prosecutors and the Attorney General and the hegemony over the judicial affairs such as transfer, assignment, promotion and secondment. In addition to, discussing the mechanisms of the new Constitution and Judicial Authority Law, more precisely ensuring the independence of the judiciary and the judicial authority, the requirements for amending many legislation governing the judiciary in line with international standards, integration and dissemination of human rights culture in educational and formative system of judges and the involvement of civil society and political parties in strengthening the independence of the judiciary. The conference also aims at discussing the mechanisms to immunize judges physically and cognitively against any interventions or violations of any of their independence and give them the right to form trade unions and professional associations as a way for protecting them, defending their rights and improving their professional performance.

Regional Session of the Eminent Jurists Panel of the International Commission of Jurists in the Arab Region on “Combating Terrorism and Human Rights” 4-7 June 2007

4 June, 2007

Dr. Vitit Muntarborn, current member of the Muntarborn Panel (Thailand), is a professor of law at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and the UN expert on human rights in North Korea.
Mr. Said Benarbia, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ).

The Second Arab Justice Conference (Supporting and Strengthening the Independence of the Judiciary), Cairo, February 21-24, 2003

21 February, 2003

Professor Dr. / Yehia El Gamal, Professor and Head of the Public Law Department at Cairo University, former Dean of the Faculty of Law – Cairo University, and Attorney at Cassation
Counselor / Asem Abdel Jabbar – Vice President of the Egyptian Court of Cassation
Counselor / Farouk El Kilani – Former President of the Jordanian Court of Cassation
Counselor / Ahmed Mekki – Vice President of the Egyptian Court of Cassation
Counselor / Yehia El Rifai – Former Vice President of the Egyptian Court of Cassation and Honorary President of the Egyptian Judges Club
Professor Dr. / Abdul Hussein Shaaban – Head of the Arab Organization for Human Rights, London Branch – and General Coordinator of the Iraqi Network for Human Rights Culture and Development

For more details about the conference, please open the following link: