Supporting justice reform and capacity building around the world
Recent events in Pakistan have highlighted how crucial a strong and independent judiciary is to a working democracy. Through the CBA, the Canadian Bar has condemned the recent arrests of lawyers in Pakistan and has called for a return to the rule of law. From Bangladesh to China, the members of the Canadian Bar Association are actively contributing to law reform on the international stage and speaking out whenever the independence of the Bar is put at risk. The CBA provides members with multiple and diverse opportunities to contribute to evolving justice systems and to engage with legal issues far beyond Canada’s borders.

Since 1990, the CBA has delivered legal and justice reform and capacity building projects in 29 countries across Asia, Africa, Central Europe, and the Caribbean through the International Development Program. By actively engaging with overseas partners, the effects of CBA International Development programs are sustained far beyond their termination. Amongst a multitude of other international activities, the CBA is currently undertaking extensive capacity building programs in both Bangladesh and China. In Bangladesh, in partnership with their Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, CBA members are working to increase legal and judicial capacity and enhance access to justice by the poor and disadvantaged. In China the CBA, in partnership with All China Lawyers Association (ACLA), is working to foster the development of an independent Bar in China.

At the Branch level, the International Assistance Section works to promote the rule of law and foster the ideals of justice around the world. In addition to hosting speakers whose careers have an international component, the Section fulfils its mandate by collecting and sending legal resources overseas. Used legal text books that are donated by law students, private companies, and varied members of B.C.’s legal community have assisted a number of Bar Associations in Africa and Asia to set up law libraries. This past year the Section delivered two boxes of legal textbooks to the Cambodian Law Society.

There are many ways that members of all ages can get involved in CBA’s international programs. These include:

• Joining the CBA International Development Committee Resource bank (indicating your interest in and availability for, international opportunities);
• Joining the CBA’s International Development Committee;
• Joining the CBABC’s International Assistance Section; and
• Applying for the CBA Young Professionals International Program (YPIP), a great opportunity for young lawyers to help build human rights law abroad.

The closing date for applications the 2008-2009 CBA YPIP is Monday, April 8, 2008. Please visit www.cba.org/bc and www.cba.org for further information about opportunities for international engagement offered by the CBA.

This article was published in the December 2007 issue of BarTalk and is subject to the copyright by the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, 2007, all rights reserved.