News
ASEAN Chief Justices agree to promote relations
At the first meeting of Chief Justices of the ASEAN recently organised in Singapore, the Chief Justices agreed to promote close relations and mutual understanding amongst the ASEAN judiciaries.
Judges asked to enforce existing environmental laws
Highlighting the importance and scope of environment Chief Justice of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muhammad Azam Khan on Saturday said that there is need to be more concerned about the protection of environment and enforcement of existing environmental laws in country.
Cooperation between the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in Law (SAARCLAW)
Established in October 1991, SAARCLAW is a regional apex body of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). It is composed of judges, lawyers, law academics, and other stakeholders in South Asia. It has an Honorary Secretary-General with an Executive Council and country chapters. According to its Charter, SAARCLAW was formed for the purposes of disseminating information, promoting cooperation and understanding of the legal developments in the region, and developing law as an instrument of social change.
Fourth ASEAN Chief Justices’ Roundtable opens
The fourth ASEAN Chief Justices’ Roundtable on the role of the judiciary in environmental protection opened on December 13th in Hanoi by the Supreme People’s Court of Vietnam with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Asian Judges Create Network on Environment
An Asian Judges Network on Environment has been formally launched in Manila, marking a new stage of cooperation among justices charged with enforcing environmental laws and helping to preserve Asia’s natural capital. The three-day Second Asian Judges Symposium on Environment held last week drew eminent judges and representatives of courts, environment ministries, prosecutor’s offices, the legal profession, and civil society from the Asia Pacific region and beyond.
ASEAN Chief Justices Explore Legal Solutions to Environmental Threats
Legal responses to cross border threats from climate change, pollution, deforestation and the illegal trade in wildlife and timber are at the top of the agenda at a meeting of Chief Justices from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bangkok, Thailand.
ADB Assists Local and Foreign Banks in the Philippines to Establish Islamic Banks and Units
ADB’s technical assistance (TA) program to promote the Philippines’ socioeconomic development and acceleration through Islamic finance helped in the promulgation of Republic Act No. 11439. This paved the way for both local and foreign banks to establish full-fledged Islamic IBUs.
ADB Supports South Pacific “Open for Business” with International Arbitration
The South Pacific region used to be one of the few regions in the world without an effective legal framework to resolve cross-border commercial disputes through international arbitration, a private dispute resolution process that involves parties from different countries submitting their dispute to a neutral arbitrator or panel. This form of cross-border dispute resolution and enforcement regime is fundamental to foreign investment, trade, climate finance, and resolves disputes quicker than going to court.
ADB Supported the Creation of First-of-its-Kind Asia Pacific Judges Network on the Environment (AJNE)
ADB supported the establishment of the Asia Pacific Judges Network on the Environment (AJNE), a dynamic forum that connects judges from over 30 countries. The network is committed to providing capacity building, multilateral exchanges, and knowledge sharing on environmental adjudication, common challenges, and best practices.
ADB Publishes Series of Knowledge-Sharing Reports on Climate Change Law and Policy
ADB published a four-part series of knowledge-sharing reports in December 2020 titled Climate Change, Coming Soon to a Court Near You. The report series aims to overcome some of these barriers and support judiciaries and legal professionals by sharing knowledge and success stories from Asia and the Pacific.