Rule of Law in Fragile and Post-Conflict States

RESCHEDULED EVENT

Date: Monday 5th December, 2011
Time: 18.30-20.00
Venue: Ashurst LLP, Broadwalk House, 5 Appold Street, London, EC2A 2HA

Building the Rule of Law in Fragile and Post-Conflict States

Respect for the rule of law is a central tenant of democracy and necessary for any society to function effectively. In fragile and post-conflict states, where a breakdown in governmental structure has lead to a governance void, rule of law is particularly important, a lack of which can be a barrier to development and act to perpetuate violence and discontent.

By drawing on the experiences of our speakers and focusing on the situations in Afghanistan and South Sudan, this seminar will explore various avenues for building the rule of law, including:

• The role of justice reform in securing rule of law
• The role that local, national, and international interventions can play in achieving security for civilian populations
• The typical challenges to building and entrenching rule of law and how these challenges may be overcome

Speakers:

Mareike Schomerus, director of the Justice and Security Research Programme based at the London School of Economics, is a researcher, consultant, teacher, and broadcaster. Mareike’s research focuses on violent conflict, peace, human security and small arms, and has a particular interest in the conflict in Sudan and South Sudan.

In 2009 Mareike lead a research team to investigate the causes of local violence and the tensions between state building and conflict management in Southern Sudan, giving her a unique insight into the importance of the rule of law in southern Sudanese states—and more crucially into the need to rethink how notions rule of law and fragility are defining often misplaced interventions to improve both.

Naina Patel, Blackstone Chambers, is a barrister specialising in public law and human rights, commercial and employment law. Naina has just returned from spending a year in Afghanistan as Senior Justice Adviser to the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Helmand (June 2010 to June 2011), deployed through HMG’s Stabilisation Unit.

During the year, Naina worked closely with the Chief Prosecutor, Chief Justice, Director of the Department of Justice, Prison Governor and a number of civil society organisations to strengthen justice in Helmand.  Building on her work in the country since 2003, and her academic study of the relationship between law and development, the year has given Naina an in-depth understanding of what is necessary to meet the conditions for the transition of the province to Afghan control in 2014.

This event is now full.