CBA International Initiatives has for over 25 years supported the strengthening of rule of law in developing countries and countries in transition. This important work is made possible with funding from the Government of Canada, other international donor organizations, and with the invaluable volunteer legal expertise contribution by CBA members. We have collaborated with partners in close to 30 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean and continue to proudly share the best of what the Canadian legal profession has to offer.
Here’s an update on current initiatives:
National Legislative Development Project in Vietnam
The National Legislative Development Project, implemented by the consortium of the CBA, the Ministry of Attorney General of Ontario and Stikeman Elliott LLP, is entering its second full year of implementation of Phase 2. The 2016-2017 project year will be the most intense yet. As the main Vietnamese partner, the Ministry of Justice, prepares for the entry into force of the Law on the Promulgation of Legal Normative Documents, Canadian lawyers specializing in justice policy and legislative drafting will support the development of guidebooks and training programs. Canadian lawyers will also support the trial application of the new legislative development process in specific areas of law such as competition, fisheries, and securities.
Supporting Access to Justice for Children and Youth in East Africa
The Supporting Access to Justice in East Africa Project is implemented by the CBA in partnership with national working groups comprised of a broad range of legal system stakeholders in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
In Kenya, workshops were held in March with the Nairobi Children's Court Case Handling Committee members on best practices in restorative justice measures for children in conflict with the law, facilitated by Kim Pate, executive director Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies; and child victim protection, facilitated by Karen Simone, assistant Crown attorney, Toronto. In Mombasa, Kenya, a workshop was held in April on drafting child friendly policy and legislation for Commissioners and Drafters of the Kenya Law Reform Commission. Canadian facilitators Lionel Levert, former chief legislative counsel, Government of Canada and Jane Long, special projects counsel, Office of the Children’s Lawyer in Ontario, trained participants on the fundamentals of policy development and legislative drafting, taking into consideration the rights and needs of children.
In Uganda, a high-level policy workshop was held in March for justice-sector stakeholders on building a child-friendly justice system. The workshop focused on three themes: restorative justice and diversion; the evidence of child victims/witnesses; and legal and policy reform. Justice Jamie Campbell, Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, Mary Birdsell, executive director, Justice for Children & Youth in Toronto, and Sandra Dworkin, Crown counsel, British Columbia, shared experiences from Canada.
In Tanzania, a workshop was held for juvenile justice stakeholders in March that raised awareness on the use of restorative justice and diversion measures for children in conflict with the law. The workshop was facilitated by Anthony Doob, professor emeritus, Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies at the University of Toronto, and Danny Graham, special adviser, McInnes Cooper.
Quality and Accessible Legal Aid in Ukraine Project
In March we hosted a series of meetings between various CBA departments and an inter-agency delegation from Ukraine. Delegation members included representatives of the Ministry of Justice (Coordination Center for Legal Aid Provision), the Ukrainian Bar Association, and the Bar Association of Legal Aid Providers: Andriy Vayshevsky, Artem Stoianov, and Yuliya Lisova, respectively. The Canadian Bureau for International Education requested our support to the Quality and Accessible Legal Aid in Ukraine Project and in May a CBA team will undertake a learning needs assessment prior to supporting the design of a training program aimed at enhancing lawyers’ role in the legal system.
UNICEF collaboration in Malaysia
CBA International Initiatives collaborates with the Malaysian Bar Council and UNICEF Malaysia to develop and deliver a “training the trainers” program to lawyers in Malaysia focusing on practical skills and ethical issues in representing children in conflict with the law and in family custody and access proceedings. CBA members with child representation and training development expertise from across Canada assisted in the development of the training program and training manuals. The session was held in Kuala Lumpur in April, facilitated by lawyer Kitson Foong and child rights advocate Prema Devaraj from Malaysia, and Mary Birdsell, executive director, Justice for Children & Youth in Toronto, Katherine Kavassalis, legal director, Office of the Children’s’ Lawyer, Ontario and Jennifer Khor, CBA International Initiatives project director.