Thursday, 15 January 2009: A high-level delegation from the Iranian Central Bar Association (ICBA) conducted a study tour of our country’s legal system from 14-16 January. Assisted by the International Bar Association (IBA), the ICBA spent some time sharing ideas and information at a dialogue with the Bar’s Human Rights Committee (HRC).
The dialogue started with the usual pleasantries, and moved on to a discussion on the HRC’s objectives and activities. The ICBA then explained that its lawyers mainly deal with the protection of the rights of children, women and prisoners. They are also involved in legal education programmes.
The dialogue’s main agenda was to explore the possibility of joint programmes between the HRC and the ICBA. After some brain-storming, we found a common ground which would benefit the Bar and the ICBA’s members - human rights training on international law in relation to the rights of the child under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the rights of women under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the rights of prisoners under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Participants at the dialogue urged the IBA to look into funding such a programme.
Other suggestions included a ‘trial observation’ training programme to empower lawyers to hold amicus briefs in the courts on public interest cases, exchange of experiences on Syariah issues particularly in relation to the rule of law and human rights, and developments in the law of e-commerce and corporate social responsibilities. A suggestion to form a joint working committee by e-group was also mooted to implement these ideas.
The ICBA mentioned that it is keen on sending young lawyers to participate in the joint programmes and supports the collaboration with the Malaysian Bar. The HRC and ICBA members thanked the IBA for initiating the dialogue and are looking forward to the proposed initiatives.
During the course of the dialogue, the ICBA expressed surprised that Malaysia has yet to sign the two core human rights treaties namely, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights while Iran had signed the same in 1976. This prompted a remark by the Chair of the dialogue, Edmund Bon, that Iran is “definitely better” than Malaysia in this regard.
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