Commonwealth Lawyers conference opens in London

Accra, Sept 11, GNA - The 50th international conference of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association starts from September 11-15 at London, United Kingdom at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre. The conference would be attended by legal professionals - judges, magistrates, public and private sector lawyers, academics, paralegals and executives of the Commonwealth's law associations from around the world and would run in conjunction with the annual conference of the Law Society of England and Wales.

A statement issued by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiatives Secretariat in Accra said the conferences is on the general theme: "Developing Law and Justice," and embraces issues facing today's Commonwealth lawyers.

Other issues to be discussed include; globalisation and the environment, security and freedom, discrimination and the protection of the under-privileged, access to justice and the future of the legal profession.

There would also be sessions on disaster relief, Islamic law and banking.

The statement noted the association over the last 50 years established itself as the premier legal event in the Commonwealth. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra Mr. Samuel Okudzeto, former President of the Ghana Bar Association, who is tabled to speak on: "Should rules of professional conduct change to suit your Location?" Said the conference offers a platform for networking by legal practitioners within the Commonwealth.

He said, "as a legal platform, members update their knowledge on case by case situation from across the world, assess the legal profession and the promotion of democracy and adherence to human rights."

Mr. Okudzeto said lawyers by their training are supposed to be the voice for the voiceless and speak for on behalf of society, the vulnerable, women, and the poor in the interest of justice. On Ghana's contribution to the Commonwealth Lawyers Associations, the former GBA President said: "it has mainly be by appearance, projecting legal developments in the country and articulating the national views on the international level.

The country's appearance enables it to renew and cement its commitment towards the ideals of the associations. Nana Oye Lithur, Coordinator of the African Regional Office of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative would be among core of eminent lawyers, juries, and other legal brains to speak at the conference.