UIA Newsletter - October 2014 - Editorial
Dear colleagues,
My presidency will soon come to an end, and it is hard to believe that this is one of my last messages as UIA President. I have concentrated my efforts on broadening the UIA's range and scope by personal contact with bar leaders and fellow lawyers in countries where our association has not been as active as it should be. More generally, it is gratifying for me as a President to see that my extensive travel this year is paying off for the UIA in the form of new members from countries previously underrepresented in or missing altogether from our association.
Our outreach cannot only be geographic, however; it also must be generational. We need to continue to attract a new generation of creative, committed lawyers from a variety of countries, trained in diverse legal traditions and speaking a variety of languages, who will make their mark as the leaders of our profession and of our association in the years to come.
What makes the UIA unique, of course, is our linguistic, cultural and legal diversity. As an American, I know how common it is for international associations to be dominated by one language and only a few nationalities. No other international lawyers' association offers the opportunity that we provide for significant and profound exchange among colleagues who do not share a common language or mode of legal practice.
Although I regret that our upcoming Florence Congress will mark the end of my Presidency of the UIA, I am delighted to report that it also will mark a significant new beginning for our association. Based on the indicative vote of the UIA Governing Board in Athens, we will present to the General Assembly in Florence our recommendation for the election of Laurence Bory of Switzerland as the next Vice-President of the UIA. When the General Assembly ratifies her election, Laurence will be in line to become the first woman to serve as UIA President in our nearly 90-year history. Her election will mark a milestone that is long overdue, and is a highly symbolic confirmation of the reality of our commitment to equality of opportunity among all of our members.
It has been a privilege and an honor to represent you. Please join me at our Florence Congress as I close my Presidency at this wonderful celebration of the law with friends and colleagues from around the world.
Stephen L. Dreyfuss
Dear colleagues,
This issue is both a preview of the upcoming Congress in Florence, but at the same time also a review of past activities, both giving an overview of the life in UIA.
We are discussing what has happened on an international level, as the UIA as a non governmental-organization has its constant presence within the UN on different levels. Our representative, Jutta Bertram-Nothnagel, introduces what has happened, but also an overview as to what is upcoming.
We also refer to our activities on the Defense of Defense site in the past year 2014 and this reflects one of the core businesses for UIA: Defending the rights of lawyers on a world-wide basis with the background of an international organization.
We also give you a preview as to what the International Bar Leaders Senate is going to deal with during the next year and, last but not least, some key topics of our commissions’ work, mainly at the Congress, but certainly also continuing after this event.
We hope at least one or two of the subjects raised are within your scope of interest as well and we are very much looking forward to welcoming you to Florence.
Best regards,
Dr. Marcus Schriefers