Engaging Law in Context Symposium, June 4-5, 2009, Jakarta, Indonesia

On June 4 and 5 2009, more than 120 people attended a World Bank Justice for the Poor Symposium, Engaging Law in Context, in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Participants came from across the East-Asia Pacific Region (Cambodia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Australia) as well as from Africa (Sierra Leone and Kenya), the UK and the United States, and represented a broad range of government, civil society, development partner and academic organizations.

The Symposium was generously supported by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Dutch Government.
The purpose of the Engaging Law in Context Symposium was to enhance dialogue among policy makers, practitioners, researchers and donors on key issues relating to the conception and implementation of reforms that make the law work better for the disempowered. Timed to mark the start of Justice for the Poor’s East Asia and the Pacific Regional Initiative, the Symposium was designed to contribute to the development of a community of practice on these issues. The Symposium also provided an opportunity to develop broader strategic approaches to legal empowerment and to identify possible areas for future work.

The Symposium provided an overview of theory and practice in legal pluralism and development, as well as insights into the practical challenges of designing and implementing reforms in three areas – the justice sector, land and natural resources, and women’s empowerment.
See the Symposium agenda and the Symposium report for detailed information.

Addresses, presentations and papers given at the Symposium 

Video address to the symposium by Anne-Marie Leroy, General Counsel of the World Bank’s Legal Vice Presidency 

Opening Address at the Regional Symposium: Engaging Legal Pluralism in Context, opening address by Andi Mattalatta, the Minister of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia 

Justice for the Poor Indonesia by Matt Zurstrassen, Social Development Specialist, Country Coordinator Justice for the Poor Indonesia 

Lessons on Legal Pluralism and Development Processes: A Thumb Nail Sketch—Creative Destruction & Reconstruction by Jackson Maogoto, University of Manchester 

One, Two … Many Legal Orders: Legal Pluralism and Development by Henry Maina, formerly with the Legal Resources Foundation Kenya 

Land and Conflicting Dispute Resolution Processes: Vanuatu Context by Russell Nari, Director General, Ministry of Lands Vanuatu 

Access and Equity in Family Law and Birth Certificates Cases: A Case Study of family law and birth certificate cases in the General and Religious Courts from 2007-2009 by Cate Sumner, Lead Adviser Access to Justice/ Judicial Reform, Indonesia Australia Legal Development Facility

Contact Susanne Skoruppa or Nicholas Menizes for further information.