Mediation is growing in importance as a mode of dispute resolution, as more and more parties in an ever-wider range of disputes recognise its potential. The Commonwealth Secretariat’s Office of Civil and Criminal Justice Reform (OCCJR), with Thuso Ltd, has produced a guide for practitioners and policy-makers to the history, practice and potential of this non-adversarial path.
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Commonwealth Secretariat Empowers Legal Practitioners with New Guide on Mediation
Main page for this area of work
By examining the position of mediation in a tradition of ‘adversarial’ court-adjudicated disputes, The Commonwealth Guide to Mediation chronicles the evolution of mediation as a case management tool. Furthermore, it explores the various models that have been adopted, identifying emerging areas of innovation and highlighting exemplars of good practice.
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The Commonwealth Guide to Mediation: A Resource for Practitioners and Policy-makers
Speaking at an event in Trinidad and Tobago aimed at tackling male violence, especially young men, The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, KC, has called for societies to “act together” to reverse the tide of violence amongst men.
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The Commonwealth Secretary-General urges early and targeted action to reduce crime
This second edition of the CCJ focuses on AI: its first five articles, collected together in the special section on AI, address emerging threats and employ AI approaches to improving cybersecurity safeguards. The contributors to this issue cover topics including AI in the justice system; generative artificial intelligence-led crime as a service; violent extremism and AI; AI and the future of intellectual property rights; analysis of the Budapest Convention and draft UN anti-cybercrime framework; and the future of cyber insurance and cybercrime in the Asia-Pacific region.
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Commonwealth Cyber Journal: Volume 2
Legal experts gathered at a seminar in London on 23 May 2023 have called on Commonwealth countries to bolster reporting on the domestic implementation of international humanitarian law.
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Commonwealth countries urged to strengthen reporting on international humanitarian law
The current global pressure on resources means curbing the trillion-dollar cost of corruption is “more important than ever”, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, has said.
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Curbing trillion-dollar cost of corruption 'more important than ever' says Secretary-General
This first issue of the CCJ examines contemporary issues and topics such as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in judicial decision-making in criminal matters; co-dependency between cybercrime and organised crime; data privacy concerns in relation to bring-your-own-device (BYOD) working practices; a comparative review of national cybercrime laws; regional cyber-criminogenic theory; cybercrime reporting; and cyber diplomacy co-operation on cybercrime.
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Commonwealth Cybercrime Journal: Volume 1
Improved information management systems are vital in developing more robust monitoring of Commonwealth nation’s human rights obligations, a survey has found.
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Commonwealth Member States Bridging the Human Rights Implementation Gap, survey finds
A new report by the Commonwealth Secretariat calls on policymakers from Pacific countries to consider adopting laws requiring bystanders to report online violence against women and girls.
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Report calls for bystander intervention laws to address online violence against women in Pacific
7 February 2023 to 9 February 2023
Conference
The Commonwealth Secretariat’s Rule of Law Section is hosting a conference in Papua New Guinea from 7 to 9 February 2023 on tackling cybercrime in the Pacific region.
14 February 2023 to 14 February 2023
Conference
The Commonwealth Secretariat is hosting a seminar in London on 14 February to discuss challenges and opportunities in reforming laws that disproportionately affect people living in poverty.
The Commonwealth Secretariat considers corruption a major challenge to sustainable development and has made preventing and countering corruption a top priority by supporting member countries combat systemic corruption and promote good governance. We do this through a three-pronged approach based on policy research, capacity-building and training, and strong collaboration.
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Capacity development and collaboration critical in the fight against corruption
Commonwealth law ministers have adopted a new model law to strengthen rules for protecting and handling the personal data of the 2.5 billion people living in the association’s 56 member countries.
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Commonwealth ministers adopt new model law to strengthen data protection rules
Today Commonwealth Law Ministers unanimously agreed to recommend the 'Commonwealth Principles on Freedom of Expression and the Role of the Media in Good Governance' to Commonwealth Leaders to consider at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
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Commonwealth Secretary-General welcomes Law Ministers’ unanimous agreement on Media Principles
Law Ministers are meeting in Mauritius to set clear directions on a range of legal, rule of law and justice issues.
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We must transform justice systems to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow, says Commonwealth Secretary-General
A blog by Dr Elizabeth Macharia, Legal Adviser, Law Development Section, Governance and Peace Directorate, Commonwealth Secretariat.
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Blog: The Commonwealth's Plan of Action to Enhance Access to Justice
22 November 2022 to 25 November 2022
Event
Hosted by the Attorney General’s Office Mauritius, the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting (CLMM) will convene in Mauritius under the theme: ‘Strengthening international cooperation through the rule of law and the protection of human rights.'
The Commonwealth will deploy a team to observe the general elections in Lesotho, scheduled for 7 October, 2022. The group will be led by the former president of Seychelles, His Excellency Danny Faure.
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Commonwealth to observe Lesotho’s general elections
The Commonwealth works with national authorities to uphold transparency and accountability in public services. We pay particular attention to strengthening anti-corruption agencies, public administration and financial management systems in small and less developed countries.
The Commonwealth works with national authorities to uphold transparency and accountability in public services. We pay particular attention to strengthening anti-corruption agencies, public administration and financial management systems in small and less developed countries.
Over 100 Political Office Bearers from Namibia, including cabinet ministers, briefed on Government Performance Management ahead of the country implementing the Commonwealth’s state-of-the-art SMART software
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Namibia set to adopt the Commonwealth’s state-of-the-art SMART software to improve government performance
More than 200 top civil servants from across the Commonwealth wrapped up their biennial meeting by adopting an outcome document that underscores the importance of implementing the Generally Accepted Performance Principles to enhance government performance.
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Commonwealth heads of public service meeting concludes with the endorsement of government performance principles
The biennial Commonwealth Heads of Public Service and Cabinet Secretaries meeting is currently underway virtually. Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, and the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, opened the forum by delivering keynote addresses highlighting the need for collective efforts to deliver sustainable and effective performance in government.
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Commonwealth’s top civil servants discuss strategies to build robust public service
The Commonwealth Secretariat will host its 2nd Biennial Pan-Commonwealth Meeting of Heads of Public Service and Cabinet Secretaries in June. Confirmed speakers include the Prime Ministers of Barbados and Bhutan, cabinet secretaries, former senior government officials, academics, and representatives of international organisations.
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Commonwealth Heads of Public Service to discuss government performance management for sustainable development
Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa call for greater regional collaboration among member states in the fight against corruption.
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Africa Anti-corruption conference concludes with strong commitment for greater collaboration to tackle corruption