2022 Annual Conference & Triennial General Assembly
On the 27th day of June, 2022 to 30th day of June, 2022, Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) held its 12th Annual Conference (the Conference) in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, under the theme “The Africa We Want: From Aspirations to Reality”.
The event brought over 150 participants, drawn from across the African Continent and the Diaspora, including but not limited to individual lawyers and law firm executives; leaders of national and regional lawyers’ associations from across the world; officials from national governments, intergovernmental and international organizations; representatives of civil society organizations; and select members of the public, including youths and students.
The conference had several sessions on; Minding my Neighbor’s Business: Discussing the enhancement of national prosecution of transnational crimes; The future of the legal Profession: A discussion on the roles and opportunities for lawyers in the metaverse; Utilizing the UN FACTI and Mbeki Panel Recommendations for approved financial integrity: progress, challenges and way forward; Real Estate: Recent innovations in real estate law; Women Lawyers and the Africa we want; Beneficial Ownership Transparency Implementation in Africa: progress, challenges and way forward; Court annexed mediation: Experiences from across the world; Decriminalization of Petty Offences: Legal Profession addressing Discriminatory Practices; The Detriments of non-bailable offences and prolonged detention; Independence of the Legal Profession; The past, the future and everything in-between: A conversation on the efforts made towards the restitution of African Cultural Heritage; Galvanising the Implementation of the AfCFTA Law; Law Practice Management Session: Law Practice Management Innovations in the COVID era; Weaponisation of the Legal Systems: Threat to Civic Space and Rule of Law in Africa; the Return of the Coups: Session on Unconstitutional change Law Practice Management Session; Tackling the Professional Enablers of Illicit Financial Flows: A Focus on Lawyers; Regional convening on safeguarding rule of law and accountability in East Africa; FATF Recommendations and Closing civic space and a session on the Role of Professionalism in facilitating and stemming IFFs.
CLOSING CEREMONY
The session was chaired by Mr. Emeka Obegolu, the former President of the Pan African Lawyers Union. On behalf of PALU, he appreciated all the participants for their contributions. lawyers were urged to get involved in politics directly. It was submitted that Rule of Law can be used for the betterment of the society. That, there is a need for protection of Civic Space because Civic Space is so central to the development of the society. Further, the role of the organized legal profession is very important in development. And that, the Legal Profession should not be amused and forget the simplicity that the society requires; lawyers should promote simplicity other than making law complex. This will help mobilize people.