Event Overview

Thank you for attending the AIJA  webinar "BLACK LIVES MATTER: The role of lawyers in tackling racism " on Wednesday, 10 February.  To mark black history month, the webinar focused on real-life examples of activism and presented concrete steps we can take as international lawyers to address racism in the legal profession and in our home countries. Below you can find the main takeaways:

Concrete steps you can take to fight racism in your workplace and communities:

âś… Use pro bono opportunities to help civil society movements to tackle discrimination and inequality through the law

âś… Partner with colleagues from different cultural and social backgrounds and levels of seniority to expose each other to different perspectives

âś… Develop mentoring partnerships with local schools and universities to create an anti-racist next generation of lawyers

âś… Promote affirmative action within firms and develop an assimilation and support culture to ensure employees settle in fast and tap into their greatest potential

âś… Create commissions within Bar Associations to bring awareness to issues black people still face, such as their limited access to the legal profession

âś… Include in the school curriculum, mandatory topics on the history of African culture and the role black communities in social, economic and political domains pertinent to the history of a country

âś… Commit to education and training on unconscious bias and take action to promote equity and not oppression. 

âś… Be vigilant and call out racist comments and behaviour in a respectful way to encourage change

 “Racism has taken root for centuries and we may not uproot it in a day, but with good will and concerted effort from EVERYONE, we can soon have it in the past.”

 Watch the recording

If you've missed the webinar, the recording is now available.

 

 Panelists

 Edmund Kwame_1

Kwame Botchway | Writer, Impact Strategist

Kwame has worked on projects and research focused on inclusive and equitable development practices across cities, in the USA and Ghana. His areas of expertise include affordable and mixed-income housing, sustainability, community and economic development, and racial equity and inclusion.

Presently, Kwame works in the non-profit sector in North-East Ohio, USA; and also spends his time consulting with mission-oriented organisations both in the US and Ghana to deepen their impact within communities.

 Michael-Olatokun-image

 

Michael Olatokun | Research Fellow in Citizenship and the Rule of Law; Head of Public and Youth Engagement

Michael is a researcher and project manager focused on exploring the connection between rights, citizenship and education. He leads the Centre's strategic area of focus on Citizenship and the Rule of Law. He is the Coordinator of 'The Rule of Law for Citizenship Education', a nationwide programme in which young people are taught about the rule of law and human rights. As a result of the success of this work, Michael was asked to join the Solicitor General's Public Legal Education Committee.

 Fernanda

 

Fernanda Machado | Attorney at Dauro Schettino Advogados

Fernanda is a Brazilian lawyer admitted to practice in the Rio de Janeiro Bar and in the Paris Bar. She has a Master’s Degree in Comparative Family Law from the University of Paris 8 and was an intern at The Hague Conference on Private International Law. Her practice includes cross-border divorce, distribution of assets, marital and child support, maintenance and alimony, issues in relation to children, gender and immigration, protection of persons with disabilities and estates and probates.

 MBULA NZUKI BIO PHOTO W_1

 

Mbula Nzuki | Principal Attorney, MN LEGAL and AIJA's Contact Person in Kenya

Mbula is a seasoned Startup and Commercial Attorney working with (and for) innovative, high-growth emerging companies and Venture Capital investors. With a strong background in Dispute Resolution (Commercial Litigation & Arbitration), Mbula has keen interest in LegalTech, TMT, Fintech, StartUp, International Business, Oil & Gas, Energy & Environmental Law practice areas.

She is a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Public International Law, a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb)London, Co – Founder of The Cyber Society and is Founder & Principal Attorney at MN Legal Advocates - a futuristic, client-oriented, innovative law firm based in Nairobi, Kenya.

 Paola_2

 

Paola Fudakowska | Legal Adviser at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office & AIJA Past President 2020/2021

Paola is a UK qualified litigator. She advises on a wide range of public international law issues including human rights and sanctions. She is agent for the U.K. government in cases before the European Court of Human Rights. At work, she is actively involved in the Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Committee which seeks to address issues such as racism in the workplace. Paola is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion which formed her mandate as AIJA President in 2019/2020.

Fees & General Info

There are currently no registration fees available.

General terms and conditions

By registering you have to accept the general terms and conditions and accept that your registration is considered binding immediately, but participation to the event is possible only after full payment of the registration fee.

Please note that any arrangements related to the participation of the participant in an AIJA event, including but not limited to booking or cancellation of accommodation or flights, as well as respecting the cancellation deadlines indicated in the general terms and conditions, are the sole responsibility of the participant. AIJA shall not be held liable for any expenses the participant may suffer as the result of participant’s failure to comply with his/her obligations.

It is recommended for each participant to purchase a cancellation and travel insurance.

Please note that in-house counsel registrations are subject to review and confirmation by AIJA. AIJA considers in-house counsel professionals who hold a university degree in law allowing access to a bar association and practicing law as an in-house counsel in private, public, or non-profit companies, institutions or organisations. Please note that in-house counsel who are at the same time active as fee-earning lawyers or consultants are not eligible to the discounted in-house counsel fee.

Please read the general terms and conditions applicable for AIJA events.

Personal Protection

The personal data that you communicate to us shall be processed by the Iternational Association Of Young Lawyers (AIJA), with its registered office at Avenue de Tervueren 231, 1150 Brussels, Belgium (Tel: +32 2 347 33 34 - office@aija.com), in accordance with Act No. 78-17 of January 6, 1978 relating to data, files and freedoms and Regulation No. 2016/679 on data protection, as of its entry into force on May 25, 2018.

Your data will be managed by AIJA's General Services, Events and Accounts Section:

  • For the purpose of administering your registration for the event and your on-site access to the event;
  • In order to pay for the selected services - your bank details will be deleted after receipt of your payment;
  • In order to communicate information messages from AIJA.

To the extent necessary for the execution of their respective tasks, our subcontractors in charge of our seminar organisation, our IT infrastructure, our management, the production and maintenance of our website and extranet, are likely to gain access to your data from time to time. Their servers are located in the European Union.

Data relating to your participation in the event shall be stored for a period of 10 years. We are obliged to archive billing data until the end of the period required for our tax and accounting obligations, i.e. for 7 full tax years.

We shall store your contact information to keep you informed until you ask us to stop. You have the right to access your data and have it corrected if necessary.