Quarterly News Bulletin

Vol. 5 No.1 | November 2010 - February 2011

I am proud to present this edition of the WJP newsletter. It reflects the tremendous progress we have made during the last few months. I would also like to take this opportunity to share with you three thoughts. First, since the initial demon-strations began in Tunisia last December, the ongoing political changes in the MENA region have led us to rethink such questions as “What is the rule of law?” “Why does it matter?” and “What is the correlation between the rule of law and political stability, economic development, social justice, and equity?” The article “Empowering MENA’s Youth: Rule of Law, Ethics and Anti-Corruption” enclosed in this newsletter might be of particular interest since the program it describes took place only days before the Tunisian government was overthrown. As these MENA countries begin to rebuild their societies for stability, order, equity, and prosperity, the WJP’s definition of the rule of law and its multidisciplinary approach in advancing the rule of law will be increasingly relevant and meaningful. Second, March 8, 2011 is International Women’s Day. The WJP would like to commemorate this occasion by sharing with you a report from our staff member,

A Letter from the Executive Director

The World Justice Project would like to acknowledge the generous financial contributions that make our work possible. Thanks to our supporters, the WJP is able to stimulate the fundamental change needed to strengthen the rule of law around the world. As the WJP continues its most ambitious year to date, we would like to thank Johnson & Johnson, Viacom International, Inc., the GE Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Chase Family Philanthropic Fund for their recent contributions. The WJP would also like to thank the following individuals for their

The World Justice Project | 740 15th Street NW | Second Floor | Washington, DC 20005 | USA | +1 202 407 9330 | wjp@wjpnet.org

Thank You to WJP Supporters

Multidisciplinary Cooperation at the Asia Pacific Rule of Law Conference

More than 140 leaders representing 35 countries from the Asia Pacific region and a multitude of professional disciplines gathered in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia from January 26-28, 2011, to iden-tify best practices in rule of law advancement. The WJP’s Asia Pacific Rule of Law Conference addressed several critical and timely regional rule of law issues through the WJP’s unique lens of multidisciplinary collaboration. Topics of special focus included: Building a Better Business Enabling Environment; Mitigating Environmental Degradation; and Ensuring the Rights of Migrants and Refugees. Conference participants developed innovative, regionally-relevant solutions to specific rule of law challenges, including the business regulatory

environment, land rights, pollution, and human trafficking. In the coming months, participants will collaborate to implement the projects incubated in Kuala Lumpur.

The WJP assembled an accomplished group of conference speakers. Michael Kirby, former Justice of the High Court of Australia; Anuradha Koirala, Founder and Executive Director of Maiti Nepal and 2010 CNN Hero of the Year; Lakshmi Venkatachalam, Vice President of Private Sector Operations for the Asian Development Bank; and Dipal Barua, Founder and Chairman of the Bright Green Energy Foundation and Co-founder and former Deputy Managing Director of Grameen Bank, were among those in attendance. For more information and to see updates on action plans incubated at the conference, speaker biographies, panel presentations, and pictures, please visit www.apac2011wjp.org.

www.worldjusticeproject.org

The World Justice Project is pleased to announce that Arthur Chaskalson, former Chief Justice of South Africa, will serve as the WJP’s newest Honorary Co-chair. Justice Chaskalson is a dedicated advocate for human rights and a champion of the law. Notable among his many accomplishments are his appointment by President Nelson Mandela in 1994 as the first President of South Africa's new Constitutional Court and his role as Chief Justice of South Africa from November 2001 until his retirement in 2005.

WJP New Honorary Co-chair

donations: Suzanne E. Gilbert, Roderick B. Mathews, Lawrence B. Bailey, James R. Silkenat, William C. Hubbard, Scott Partridge, Hongxia Liu, H. William Allen, Llewelyn Pritchard, and Leslie Miller. Organizations or individuals wishing to support The World Justice Project may contact Development Officer Sean O’Brien at +1 (202) 407-9329, or obriens@wjpnet.org. Donations can also be made online at our website www.worldjusticeproject.org/support or by sending a check to The World Justice Project, 740 15th Street NW, Second Floor, Washington, DC 20005, USA. Continued on following page

The World Justice Forum III will take place from June 20-23, 2011, in Barcelona, Spain. More than 450 invited leaders ranging from heads of state and Supreme Court justices, to doctors, teachers, business owners, and artists, among others, will come together to develop projects aimed at advancing the rule of law across disciplines and around the world. The three-day program will include project design working sessions where participants will collaborate on ideas to strengthen the rule of law in areas of mutual interest. In addition, discussants will address eight timely rule of law issues during concurrent plenary sessions.

Confirmed keynote speakers include: William H. Gates Sr., Co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Amr Musa, Secretary-General of the Arab League; Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland; Steven J. McCormick, President of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; Michael J. Holston, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Hewlett-Packard; Adama Dieng, Assistant United Nations Secretary General; Justice Joyce Aluoch, Judge on the International Criminal Court; and Somaly Mam, Founder of The Somaly Mam Foundation, among others. For more information, visit www.wjp-forum.org.

World Justice Forum III June 20-23, 2011 — Barcelona, Spain

Civil Mediation — Multidisciplinary Engagement in Morocco

Rule of Law Index Director Juan Carlos Botero and WJP Senior Economist Alejandro Ponce met with various constituents with vested interests in rule of law issues in Singapore on January 24-25, 2011. Participants included the Singapore Ministry of Law, the Singapore Ministry for Home Affairs, the Supreme Court, the Attorney General’s Chambers, and the National University of Singapore Law Faculty. These meetings focused on discussing the findings and methodology of the WJP Rule of Law Index™. The dialogues held in Singapore are fundamental to the ultimate

WJP Officer Roderick B. Mathews and Rule of Law Index Director Juan Carlos Botero co-authored an article entitled “Access to Justice in the United States” in the December 2010 issue of Virginia Lawyer, the journal of the Virginia State Bar. The article addresses the performance of the United States in the WJP Rule of Law Index™, where the US obtained low scores in providing access to civil justice, lagging behind other developed nations such as Australia, Canada, and France. The article also discusses the US’s high scores in the areas of freedom of speech, checks and balances, and effective regulatory reform. To read the article in its entirety, visit www.worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index/.

WJP Article on Access to Justice in the United States of America

On December 24, 2010, WJP Staff Attorney and Programs Manager Leila Hanafi participated in a public event held at the Moroccan Center for Dispute Resolution in Rabat. Morocco is currently implementing fast-paced reforms to advance transparency, good governance, and the rule of law. The reforms address the need for faster and more efficient legal proceedings and a resilient court system. The introduction of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms—referring to all the means outside the judicial system pertaining to resolving disputes—has been integral to this process, particularly mediation. Morocco is unique in its institutionalization of civil mediation, integrating it into the Moroccan legal system in 2007. Law nº 08-05 gives legitimacy to private, out-of-court mediation as an alternative to the lengthy and costly litigation process. As these reforms stand to improve the work of all disciplines, it is

“The WJP experience in KL provided an unusual, important opportunity for stakeholders on diverse issues to share experiences and formulate groundbreaking initiatives across a diverse set of crucial issues,” said participant Joanne Ooi, Chief Executive Officer of the Clean Air Network in Hong Kong, SAR.

Rule of Law Index Team in Singapore for Dialogue

important that all sectors of society understand how to navigate the new systems available. The WJP is working with local stake-holders to offer substantive training sessions for professionals from different fields on the country's mediation provisions and the role of mediation in resolving civil disputes. The event, attended by over 100 professionals from a range of fields, emphasized mediation’s utility in settling civil disputes, as well as the important role it can play in improving the fairness and efficiency of the work of all disciplines. As ADR mechanisms continue to expand as a viable alternative to the court system in Morocco, such multidisciplinary training programs will allow all sectors of society to benefit from improved access to justice in the country. For more information, email Leila Hanafi at hanafil@wjpnet.org.

utility of the Index. Rule of law analysis requires a careful consideration of multiple dimensions, which may vary from country to country, and a combination of sources, instruments, and methods. Multidisciplinary and multinational engagement with local stakeholders enhances the Index’s work to strengthen the rule of law around the world. The WJP is grateful to the Singapore Ministry of Law for coordinating and facilitating these meetings.

engineering field and how it is an integral part of strengthening the institutional framework to prevent corrupt practices, and promote transparency and accountability. Following the WJP’s premise that multidisciplinary collaboration is the most effective way to advance the rule of law, workshop participants agreed that corruption can only be eliminated if all contributors in construction and engineering projects cooperate in the development and implementation of effective anti-corruption actions with other relevant disciplines. This initiative provided an unparalleled platform to debate rule of law issues and in turn equip a select group of young engineers with the necessary tools to cultivate a culture that encourages compliance with the rule of law. To learn more please visit http://wfeotunisia.blogspot.com/p/agenda.html or email Leila Hanafi at hanafil@wjpnet.org.

Empowering MENA’s Youth: Rule of Law, Ethics and Anti-Corruption

The first public launch of the WJP Rule of Law IndexTM 2010 report on October 14, 2010 was well-publicized and has stimulated discussions on rule of law issues around the world. Several international wires, leading newspapers in over 35 countries, and scores of online news outlets and blogs have written about the Index, resulting in over 200 media mentions—and counting. From the ABA Journal to The New York Times and El País, journalists around the world have taken note of the Index and are citing it as an authoritative reference on rule of law-related issues. The Index is also being cited by political leaders around the globe to corroborate their identification of strong and weak areas across rule of law dimensions in their countries. In October 2010, in his annual speech to the Colombian Judiciary, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos used the Index findings to underscore the need to reform the Colombian criminal investigation system—a reform that has been lagging for 15 years.

Joshua Steele, about wom-en’s rights in Sierra Leone and the work of the 50/50 Group, a WJP Opportunity Fund project, to catalyze change for women. This report underscores the WJP’s founding premises and is a great example of concrete change on-the-ground. Access to justice for women will continue to be one of the priority areas for the WJP. Third, the WJP will host the World Justice Forum III from June 20-23, 2011, in Barcelona, Spain. Similar to Forum I and II, its objective is to debate and incubate projects that advance the rule of law. For the first time, the WJP is introduc-ing an exciting open partic-ipant-nomination process for this invitation-only sig-nature event. In addition to accepting nominations from our Honorary Co-Chairs, Board of Directors and Officers, co-sponsoring organizations, and financial supporters, we will invite the general public to nomi-nate outstanding individu-als who have contributed to the interdisciplinary advancement of the rule of law. This new invitation process is expected to augment the wisdom and energy at Forum III. Also, the WJP will release its Rule of Law Index data and findings covering up to 65 countries, which will greatly aid Forum III discussions and debates. I thank you for your contin-ued interest and support for The World Justice Project!

WJP Opportunity Fund grantee The PeaceTones Initiative of the Internet Bar Organization (IBO) launched its “Haiti Sings” music contest in October 2010, allowing Haitian artists to showcase their talents. The PeaceTones Initiative helps musicians from conflict zones to digitally market their songs and promote peace in conflict-ridden nations around the world. The IBO connects artists in conflict areas with lawyers who offer trainings on how to protect intellectual property interests in contract negotiations and online dispute resolutions. A PeaceTones team visited Port au Prince, Haiti to find artists whose music and lives reflected their country’s culture and history. These artists performed original songs that were then posted online to be shared and voted on by viewers. About a quarter of the artists in the “Haiti Sings” contest were displaced

Opportunity Fund Grantee Inspired Haiti to Sing

In Singapore, while opening the Singaporean Legal New Year, Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong referenced Singapore’s high Index scores in the area of access to civil justice. Chief Justice Chan and the new Attorney General Sundaresh Menon also acknowledged areas which need attention. The WJP and the Rule of Law IndexTM were also extensively featured in two parts in the national daily newspaper, People's Court, in Beijing, China, a prominent publication read by judges in the nation. Although China was not covered in the 35 countries indexed in 2010, it is among the countries to be added in 2011. In addition, thousands of people have distributed stories on the Index via social media networks. Over 2,000 people have downloaded the report, and the WJP website is getting three times as many visits as it did before the Index launch. We expect engagement and impact to deepen as Index coverage expands. To learn more about the Index, please visit www.worldjusticeproject.org/rule-of-law-index/.

from their homes by the 2010 earthquake. On December 10, 2010, Beaubrun Louis Pascal Juanitho (“Wanito”) was selected as the winner. The winning prize included the opportunity to record an album with the IBO and the chance to perform live in New York City with the legendary Haitian group Tabou Combo. For more information and to listen to “Do Re Mi,” one of Wanito’s performances, please visit the PeaceTones’s website www.peacetones.org.

A multidisciplinary, multinational movement to advance the rule of law for communities of opportunity and equity

World Justice Forum WJP Rule of Law IndexTM Opportunity Fund Scholarship Established 2006

The WJP is pleased to announce the Opportunity Fund awardees stemming from the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Rule of Law Conference 2010. The conference held in Lima, Peru on September 8-10, 2010, produced a variety of interdisciplinary action plans. The awarded projects are: Best Practices in Access to Justice for Children Organization: ECPAT Guatemala Countries: Argentina, Colombia, El Salvador, Bolivia, Mexico, and Peru Lawyers, sociologists, and social workers will collaborate to identify and analyze the best practices of successful programs that have provided and enhanced children’s access to justice—especially for sexually exploited and vulnerable children—in Argentina, Colombia, El Salvador, Bolivia, Mexico, and Peru. The information gathered will guide the development of effective programs to be implemented and replicated throughout the region.

Announcing the Latin America and the Caribbean Opportunity Fund Awardees Letter, continued

Educating Social Entrepreneurs to Address the Rule of Law Organization: Proetica Country: Peru The project aims to equip a pilot sample of small enterprises in Peru with the tools to advance transparency, ethics, and good corporate governance in their dealings with customers, other companies, and government agencies. Promoting a rule of law culture within these companies will improve ethical performance and fair competition. Best Practices in Access to Justice Organization: Ciudadanos al Día Country: Peru This project seeks to generate knowledge and information on how access to justice can be improved in Peru and throughout the region. Through interdisciplinary collaboration between legal experts, economists, and statisticians, the project will identify, analyze, and disseminate best practices in improving access to justice via online tools and other media.

Gender Equality in Sierra Leone

In December 2010, WJP Program Assistant Joshua Steele conducted a site visit in West Africa to assess the progress and impact of the WJP Opportunity Fund grantee 50/50 Group of Sierra Leone. During his visit, he learned the story of Seray Menu, who was cast out from her home and community after being branded as a witch. Luckily, Ms. Menu learned of a group that could help her. The 50/50 Group of Sierra Leone empowers women with the knowledge of their gender equality rights under the law. Through the 50/50 Group, she learned she has a legal right to her home and children. She is now working with local authorities to reunite with her children. Started in Freetown in 2000 to promote women in politics, the 50/50 Group began a special project to translate and disseminate gender laws in 2008 with the support of the WJP. The project was conceived by 50/50 founder Dr. Nemata Majeks-Walker at the inaugural World Justice Forum held in Vienna, Austria, in July 2008. The 50/50 Group partners with local tribal chiefs and headmen to disseminate simplified, translated versions of gender rights laws through radio shows, community gatherings, and educational leaflets, educating men and women about women’s rights. The law in Sierra Leone provides the opportunity for all women to live their lives free from

gender discrimination. Yet without the work of organizations like the 50/50 Group, women often are unaware of their rights, and thus have no chance to realize true opportunity and equity. The 50/50 Group has expanded throughout the country, with many new communities requesting information and trainings. The rule of law protects vulnerable populations, including women. While the enactment of specific legislation is an important step towards achieving gender equality, the success of those efforts depends on women being aware of the legal resources, protections, and redress mechanisms available to them. The WJP’s multidisciplinary approach encourages the collaboration of different actors, such as the media, tribal chiefs, translators, and community leaders in order to enhance the efforts of educating society about women’s rights. The World Justice Project supports a number of projects that improve gender equity through access to information, and thus, justice.

From December 15-18, 2010, young engineers from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region pledged their personal and professional commitment to the rule of law, and learned new tools to enforce and advance the rule of law at work and in their communities. The World Federation of Engineering Organizations Committee on Anti-Corruption, in collaboration with the WJP, held a training workshop in Hammamet, Tunisia, to train a select group of young engineers in the rule of law, anti-corruption, ethics, and leadership. WJP Staff Attorney and Programs Manager Leila Hanafi delivered a speech during the opening panel, as well as a workshop, about the centrality of the rule of law to the

WJP Rule of Law Index™ Cited Worldwide

“I had no place to live. I was homeless,” said Seray Menu. “I lived with my husband for 17 years until I was thrown out of the house, and separated from my children. His excuse: that I was a witch.”

Hongxia Liu