The illegal wildlife trade is a multi-billion dollar business that threatens our biodiversity, endangered species and local livelihoods. At the heart of its combat strategy has to be the legal sector with a joint effort to strengthen weak criminal justice systems and connect the global law enforcement. The scenic drive from hectic Accra, Ghana’s bustling […]
On 21 February, A4ID launched the five ‘People’ chapters of the Legal Guide to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), at a virtual event in partnership with Linklaters. The ‘People’ SDGs – or SDG 2 on Zero Hunger, SDG 3 on Good Health & Well-Being, SDG 4 on Quality Education, SDG 5 on Gender Equality, SDG 6 on Clean Water & Sanitation – bring together cross-cutting issues of access, fairness and equality that are intrinsically human-centric. This blog provides an overview of the event and the discussions and ideas that were shared.
Gender discrimination at work has recently been raised in the global public consciousness. From the #MeToo movement instigating Harvey Weinstein’s conviction earlier this year, to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic highlighting how women are disproportionately exposed to the virus due to their places of work. Within the legal sector, the Law Society of England and Wales […]
An overview of amicus curiae briefs for NGOs and experts. The courtroom has often been seen as the battleground for key turning points in social development. Public interest litigation cases, often supported by amicus curiae briefs, are crucial tools in holding powerful actors to account and setting valuable legal precedent. Case law, in most jurisdictions, allows the courts to […]
With support from the legal community in advocating and implementing gender-sensitive approaches to climate action, rural women in the Philippines have the potential to build the resilience of their communities to the increasingly severe impacts of climate change. Contrary to what meets the eye, climate change is far from a gender-neutral phenomenon. Women, and particularly […]
Green Finance refers to raising capital and financial investments for companies, services and products that have a positive environmental impact. But how suitable are green bonds as an instrument for providing the funding needed to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) before 2030? It is estimated that the world needs to raise US$5-6 trillion […]
Land acquisition is a food security strategy used by countries to produce food for domestic consumption on land overseas. In both Sudan and South Sudan, the absence of land legislation, government corruption and the unequal bargaining power of foreign investors has led to an asymmetric distribution of costs and benefits in land acquisition deals. This […]
The ancient Silk Road was a network of trading routes crossing Eurasia, linking Eastern China with Western Europe until the 1400s. Today, this idea is being revitalised by China. The ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ (BRI) or ‘One Belt One Road’ is a global, multi-billion-dollar infrastructure, investment and development project, launched by Xi Jinping in 2013. […]
Based on the assumption that trade is an engine for economic growth and development, SDG 17 calls for a deeper integration of developing countries into global trade. But is the multilateral trading system really favourable to developing countries? And how can the law and lawyers help developing countries defend their interests to ensure that increased trade benefits all fairly?
When lawyers and judges deliver legal training internationally, the outcome of these assignments does not only derive from the legal and technical expertise provided. Success and impact are also a result of the ability of legal experts to understand their audience and adapt to the different legal, cultural and social environments that surround them. International legal experts should focus on the development of soft skills such as adaptability and communication to provide more effective training.
Whilst such skills may seem obvious, putting them into practice is challenging. This article draws on interviews with UK judges who deliver international legal training; but the lessons learned can apply to all legal experts undertaking international pro bono technical assistance. We intend this short article to prompt readers to consider how they can develop their soft skills and adapt to local contexts, and thereby improve their international legal technical assistance.
