Identified as future leaders in the law, the debate drew together the brightest of young legal minds from Hamad Bin Khalifa University Law School and Qatar University College of Law (QU-LAWC) to exchange their views in front of a panel of Qatari legal experts, including Sheikh Thani al-Thani, member of the Qatar Law Association and board member of the Qatar International Centre for Arbitration and Conciliation, and Dr Mohamed al-Khulaifi, dean of QU-LAWC.
The debate was held in the context of the Qatar Law Forum theme: Goal 16 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and the United Nations Charter stating that all member states shall settle their international disputes by peaceful methods in the interests of international peace, security and justice.
The junior lawyers recognised the worldwide challenges in resolving international disputes by peaceful means and made practical suggestions of how to improve the international mechanisms for resolving disputes. The discussion involved a comparison of the different international organisations responsible for resolving disputes, such as the World Trade Organisation, International Court of Justice, International Criminal Court, International Tribunal of the Sea and UN Security Council, with an examination of speed of process, costs, number of cases handled and users by nationality.
Organised by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Centre and Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC), 2017 marks the third Qatar Law Forum following previous successful events in 2009 and 2012, according to a press statement.
Faisal al-Sahouti, CEO of QICDRC, said: “Junior lawyers are an integral part of the Qatar Law Forum programme as we hope help promote a commitment and understanding of the rule of law among the young Qatari legal community.
"We are delighted to welcome students from Qatar University and Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and no doubt the experience and knowledge these junior lawyers gained from Qatar law Forum will be invaluable towards their future careers and development.”
