THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LAW ORGANIZATION TURNS 25

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 UN ROME 000042

SIPDIS

INL FOR J.JEFFREY, USAID FOR K.CRAWFORD, KABUL FOR G.PETERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID ECON EFIN AF
SUBJECT: THE INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LAW ORGANIZATION TURNS 25


1. Summary: The International Development Law Organization
(IDLO) hosted a 25th anniversary celebration at their Rome
headquarters on June 4, 2009, entitled "IDLO at 25 - Embracing
Change." The celebration noted the growth and past
accomplishments of IDLO and focused on the Organization's need
for long-term institutional change. Among the notable
accomplishments of IDLO is their work in Afghanistan to
establish the rule of law and provide legal protection to the
poor and disempowered. The strategic plan of IDLO for dealing
with future challenges was presented as a "bottom-up" strategy
of legal reform, involving multiple levels and actors working on
defined national priorities rather than discrete projects. IDLO
is concerned that the financial crisis may reduce aid levels,
but plans to use the crisis as an opportunity to push through
regulatory reform of investments and corporate governance. IDLO
is in the process of selecting a new Director-General to replace
the current DG William Loris, with an American Citizen among the
"official" candidates. End summary.

IDLO CELEBRATES 25 YEARS

2. The International Development Law Organization ("IDLO")
hosted a 25th Anniversary Celebration at their Rome headquarters
on June 4 entitled "IDLO at 25 - Embracing Change." The
celebration noted the development and past accomplishments of
IDLO, and focused on the need for long-term institutional change
for the Organization to continue to work effectively in a
changing world. Programs on key topics included:
"Peace-Building & Assistance in Post-Conflict Countries;" and
"Trends in Law and Development."

HISTORY OF IDLO

3. IDLO Director-General Loris spoke at the opening session on
the Organization's past and the need for long-term institutional
change. IDLO was created in 1983 as a Dutch foundation by a
group of lawyers concerned by what they viewed as a lack of
balance in international negotiations. In 1988, IDLO was
re-founded as an intergovernmental organization through a
multilateral convention. In 2001, the United Nations General
Assembly granted IDLO Observer Status. IDLO is the only
inter-governmental organization wholly dedicated to promoting
the rule of law and good governance in developing and
post-conflict countries. Loris noted how the rule of law is
essential for security, economic growth, and social development.
Loris also highlighted three areas of continued concern for
IDLO's future: improved access to leaders and decision-makers;
building trust, i.e., IDLO should be seen as non-political; and
demonstrating results, so IDLO may gain the necessary resources
from a dwindling pool.

IDLO ACTIVITIES IN AFGHANISTAN

4. H.E. Prof. Musa M. Maroofi, Ambassador of Afghanistan to
Italy, spoke on the significant contributions IDLO has made to
establishing the rule of law in Afghanistan. IDLO has provided
significant peace-building assistance to post-Taliban
Afghanistan by helping rebuild the country's judicial structure.
In 2002, after Taliban efforts to eliminate copies of written
law, IDLO mounted a worldwide effort to reassemble over 2400
Afghan laws, representing most of the legislation produced
during the last century. IDLO assisted in drafting the Afghan
Constitution, notable for its inclusion of the freedom of
expression and disallowance of discrimination based on gender.
IDLO has trained over 1500 legal professionals in Afghanistan on
the interpretation and application of the national law,
effective court management, and trial skills. IDLO has
published a pamphlet which explains to Afghans their legal
rights, textbooks for lawyers, and benchbooks for Afghan judges.
The Organization is also working closely with national and
international groups on the establishment of an independent
Afghan Bar Association.


5. Afghan lawyers trained by IDLO established the Legal Aid
Organization of Afghanistan (LAOA),which provides legal
representation for the nation's poor and disempowered. LAOA
provides legal aid services to women, especially those affected
by domestic violence. Through its Defense Services Department,
LAOA is conducting a comprehensive survey of all juveniles
detained in the Kabul area detention centers, and provides legal
services to those who are inappropriately detained. The
Education and Training Department of LAOA conducts professional
development workshops, training, and mentorship programs for
recent graduates of the Faculties of Law and of Shari'a at Kabul
University, and the Ministry of Women's Affairs. IDLO continues
to provide LAOA with both financial and technical assistance.

VISION OF IDLO

6. IDLO General Counsel Thomas McInerney presented "Trends in
Law and Development," highlighting the Organization's strategic

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plan. Strategic objectives include: building national
strategies and frameworks, legal empowerment of vulnerable
individuals, and building networks to stimulate legal reform.
The focus of IDLO is on the intersection of the rule of law and
economic, social, and institutional development, and reflects
the multi-dimensional aspect of the rule of law in society. The
strategic plan of IDLO for establishing the rule of law is a
"bottom-up" strategy of legal reform, involving multiple levels
and actors working on defined national priorities. This
approach deviates from the "technocratic" approach to the rule
of law, where reform programs are determined by only a few
elites. The strategic plan of IDLO is built around a number of
key concepts explicitly set out in such documents as the UN
Convention Against Corruption, the UN Convention on Organized
Crime, and Secretary General Reports. First, building the rule
of law is a long-term process, thus incremental progress over
generations is the likely route of establishment. Second, the
support of national constituencies and political commitment by
national leaders and other stakeholders is necessary. Third,
political commitment and consensus must develop through open,
inclusive, transparent, and deliberative processes. The
consensus for rule of law is based on understanding that the
rule of law is a good that makes all other social goods (life,
liberty, and prosperity) possible.


7. The Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness ("Paris
Declaration") has at its core the notion of national ownership.
National ownership is critical for IDLO to accelerate progress
in establishing the rule of law. The rule of law occurs through
political will, i.e., societal consensus, thus IDLO embraces the
Paris Declaration framework as an effective approach to
development. Therefore, IDLO plans to shift the focus of its
efforts away from discrete projects and towards enabling
achievement of national strategies. IDLO plans to work
collaboratively with leading multilateral players in the rule of
law field to devise approaches to assist in its shift towards
national strategies. IDLO also will develop techniques for
monitoring and evaluation of national strategies in the justice
sector to determine effectiveness.


8. One of the biggest challenges to rule of law implementation
is the financial crisis, which has undermined financing for
development. IDLO aims to seize the economic crisis as an
opportunity for reform, and plans to put in place measures to
help mitigate economic hardship on the poor and vulnerable.
IDLO hopes to help developing countries experiencing fiscal
shock expand their tax base to ensure public finances are solid.
Specifically, IDLO will seek regulatory reform of legal systems
to improve the investment climate and will respond to the push
for transparency contained in the London G-20 communique. IDLO
will also seek other regulatory reforms, e.g., corporate
governance and banking needs must be aligned with country
capacities. IDLO will help countries align regulation with
international standards in ways that make sense for their
particular systems. IDLO will also explore the development of
communities of practice to create space for policy negotiation.

NEW IDLO DIRECTOR-GENERAL

9. IDLO is currently finalizing procedures for the selection of
the new Director-General to replace Loris. A working group
meeting on the subject was held June 9, with another scheduled
for June 25. There are 24 applicants for the position, four of
which are Amcits. Three nations have put forth "official"
candidates: Mr. Thomas F. McInerney by the United States; Mr.
Manuel Leal-Angarita by Colombia; and Mr. Antonio Badini, Mr.
Claudio Lenoci, and Mrs. Ersiliagrazia Spatafora by Italy. To
comply with the guidelines, Italy will reduce its number of
official candidates to one, thus leaving only three official
candidates. The selection procedure will consist of the Board
of Advisors compiling a "short list" of candidates by way of an
advisory opinion. The Assembly of States will then decide which
candidates to interview at the working group meeting of June 25,
with the maximum number set at eight.
BRUDVIGLA