News
Timor-Leste Prosecutor-General and Asian Development Bank Launch Groundbreaking Handbook to Combat Gender-Based Violence
In a major step forward for the country, Timor-Leste’s Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) unveiled the Handbook on Investigation of Gender-Based Violence Offenses for the Public Prosecution Service on 31 May 2024.
The Model Forest Act Initiative Gains Momentum at United Nations Forum on Forests
The Model Forest Act Initiative gained significant traction at the recent 19th Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests held in New York City (6-10 May 2024).
ADB Presents the Model Forest Act Initiative at the 19th Session of the UN Forum on Forests
ADB's Law and Policy Reform Program, together with the United Nations Environment Programme, presented the Model Forest Act Initiative (MoFAI) to UN member states, permanent observers and regional and international organizations at the 19th Session of the UN Forum on Forests in New York City.
ADB Delivers Case-Based Training on Arbitration for Armenian Judges
On 4-5 May 2024, the ADB Office of the General Counsel's Law and Policy Reform Program held the Armenia Arbitration Judicial Colloquium in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia. The colloquium helped build participants' capacity to apply international and Armenian legal approaches to arbitration, using a practical approach in which participants grappled with scenarios based on actual cases.
Asian Development Bank Supports Legislative Reform on Digitalization of Trade Documents in Georgia
On 20 April 2024 in Tbilisi, the Asian Development Bank's Law and Policy Reform Program and Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program joined efforts with the Georgia Revenue Service, Digital Standards Initiative, and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law in hosting more than 50 government officials and private sector representatives for a discussion on the Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records.
ADB holds Stakeholders’ Consultations on Bhutan’s Insolvency Rescue Bill
In conjunction with Bhutan's Ministry of Finance, ADB held stakeholders' consultations on the draft Insolvency Rescue Bill of Bhutan 2024 in Paro on 15-17 April 2024. The objective of the new law is to simplify the current insolvency law, which is seen as complex and impractical particularly for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and individuals.
ADB Develops New E-Learning Platform for ASEAN Judges to Enhance Judicial Education
In partnership with the Council of ASEAN Chief Justices (CACJ), ADB’s Law and Policy Reform Program launches the first-of-its-kind e-learning platform and e-learning module on international commercial arbitration. Over 100 judges from ASEAN member states attended the event and discussed the evolution of judicial education, particularly in the era of technological advancements.
ADB Holds Comprehensive Training for Cambodian Judges on Climate and Environmental Law
On 11–15 March 2024, ADB's Law and Policy Reform Program collaborated with the Royal Academy for Justice of Cambodia to provide comprehensive training for judges in handling climate and environmental law litigation. This workshop marked a significant innovation in judicial education on environmental law because it focused on the craft of adjudication, complementing previous training on climate and environmental law.
ADB Supports Papua New Guinea in Enacting State-of-the-Art Arbitration Laws to Create an Enabling Environment for the Private Sector
ADB's Law and Policy Reform Program, in partnership with the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI) and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) assisted with Papua New Guinea's (PNG) enactment of two arbitration laws which are expected to attract foreign direct investment and international private climate finance.
ADB Hosts Model Forest Act Initiative (MoFAI) Drafting Committee Meeting and Philippines Multi-Stakeholder Consultations
The Model Forest Act Initiative (MoFAI) is a novel effort to provide countries across the globe with a comprehensive and innovative blueprint for legislators, policymakers, and other stakeholders for the protection, conservation, restoration, and ecologically sustainable management of forests.