The President of the International Bar Association (IBA), Almudena Arpón de Mendívil Aldama, has accepted an invitation to deliver a keynote address on 29 November 2024 at the 29th East Africa Law Society (EALS) Annual Conference . She will attend the event, taking place in Kampala, Republic of Uganda from 27-30 November 2024, with a contingent of senior IBA officers in a show of the Association's heightened commitment to the African region.
The IBA President is included in a speaker line-up that features Uganda's President, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni; EALS President, the Honourable Justice Dr Fauz Twaib; and the President of the Uganda Law Society , Isaac Ssemakadde. Currently in its 29th year, the EALS Conference primarily brings together members of the national bars in the East African community, industry leaders and government officials from across East Africa to share best practice and discuss matters affecting the legal profession, the rule of law and human rights in the region.
Ahead of the Conference, President Arpón de Mendívil commented: 'I am proud to represent the International Bar Association at the EALS Conference, demonstrating our organisation's steadfast support of East Africa. Collaboration is key to creating positive change, and as a profession we must continue to share our knowledge and experience to help drive this forward.'
She continued: 'As the global voice of the legal profession, the IBA strives to be at the forefront of research into issues affecting our international community. During my tenure as president, there are five areas that have been of primary concern to me: the contribution of lawyers to society; gender inequality at the top of the legal profession; the environmental, social and governance agenda; the rise of artificial intelligence; and the importance of supporting and preparing the next generation of lawyers. I look forward to discussing these issues with colleagues during my time at the EALS Conference in Kampala.'
Caliis Badoo, Chair of the IBA African Regional Forum added: 'QUOTE'
The Hon Justice Dr Twaib commented: 'QUOTE'
The theme of the 2024 EALS Conference is 'Leveraging the legal profession for sustainable growth and development in the East African community', and on 29 November President Arpón de Mendívil's keynote address will focus on the IBA's Strategic Plan for Africa, the findings of the landmark IBA report on the social and economic impact of the legal profession as they pertain to Africa and the status of the rule of law in Uganda. Senior IBA officers will join the President to deliver different aspects of the presentation. The delegation includes Babatunde Ajibade, Vice Chair/Treasurer of the Section on Public and Professional Interest ; Caliis Badoo, Chair of the African Regional Forum ; Ken Murphy, Chair of the IBA Bar Issues Commission (BIC); Pascale Lagesse, IBA Legal Practice Division Secretary-Treasurer/IBA Treasurer; and Tshepo Shabangu, incoming junior Vice Chair of the BIC and representative of the Law Society of South Africa at the IBA Council .
The EALS is the regional umbrella bar association of the legal profession in East Africa, bringing together the Law Society of Kenya , Burundi Bar Association , South Sudan Bar Association, Tanganyika Law Society , Rwanda Bar Association , Uganda Law Society and Zanzibar Law Society .
