<<

I B J I n S i n g a p o r e

IBJ’s Hub… Two Productive Years Later ASEAN and Laos Trainings Are Highlights

Since its inauguration in Organizations Development led to IBJ’s inaugural access to counsel and how 2010, the Singapore Justice Scheme, IBJ has developed criminal justice training countless individuals are af- Training Centre, IBJ’s first partnerships with numerous for officials and lawyers fected by our JusticeMakers regional hub, has made private and public enti- from the countries com- Fellows and staff on the remarkable strides. Housed ties, including Singapore’s prising the Association of ground. International at the Tanglin International Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Southeast Asian Nations Program Director Sanjeewa Centre, the SJTC is a criti- academic institutions, and (ASEAN) in February 2011. Liyanage presented a video In December 2011, the of one of IBJ’s 2010 Asian SJTC conducted a second JusticeMakers Fellows, training in Laos in partner- H.M. Harshi Chitrangi ship with the MFA. Several Perera, who has successfully firms, including Allen & defended several female Overy and , detainees in Sri Lanka’s lent their support to both prison system. events. Notable local and At the end of 2012, Tse foreign lawyers also shared and SJTC Legal & Program their expertise. IBJ and the Manager Clara Feng trav- MFA are committed to part- eled to Myanmar to meet nering in future trainings in key partners and discuss the ASEAN region. cooperation strategies Following the success of to implement a training its first fundraising gala in program there. Myanmar 2010, the SJTC hosted its lawyers were enthusiastic second gala in November about working with IBJ and 2012. Gracing the event holding combined trainings as the guest of honor was for judges, prosecutors, po- Participants in criminal justice training for ASEAN countries hosted by IBJ and the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs of State lice, and lawyers. With the for and Education creation of these links with cal resource entity for legal law firms, to conduct train- . The gala organizations and individu- professionals, bringing ings and other events. was attended by 160 guests als in Myanmar, the SJTC is together lawyers, judges, In 2011, IBJ partnered representing a cross-section ready to embark on a series and government officials to with Singapore’s Ministry of leaders in Singapore’s of trainings for government build fair and sustainable of Foreign Affairs to initiate legal, business, and phil- officials and lawyers in criminal justice systems the Singapore–International anthropic sectors who are 2013. across Asia. Bridges to Justice Joint committed to the rule of As one of the first Training Programme. This law. NGOs invited to work in partnership, administered At the gala, CEO Singapore under the gov- by the MFA’s Singapore Karen Tse spoke of IBJ’s ernment’s International Cooperation Programme, programs to ensure early

24 IBJ Conducts First-Ever Training for ASEAN Countries

In February 2011, IBJ event gathered 18 par- cused, including early access Trainers included and Singapore’s Ministry ticipants from Cambodia, to defense counsel. Experts legal experts from Drew of Foreign Affairs collabo- Indonesia, Laos, , from Singapore, elsewhere in & Napier, Infinitus Law, rated to create the first-ever the Philippines, Singapore, Asia, and the United States Rodyk & Davidson, Bird criminal justice training Thailand, and Vietnam. introduced new methods & Bird, Eldan Law, and for the countries compris- As part of the interac- of reviewing and analyzing National University of ing the Association of tive training methodology, evidence from a criminal Singapore Faculty of Law. Southeast Asian Nations participants were asked to case. Topics such as advo- Allen & Overy, Clifford (ASEAN). Hosted at the give brief presentations cacy and negotiation skills Chance, and Rajah & Tann National University of highlighting current in complemented leadership provided financial support Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew their own countries uphold- development and criminal for the training. School of Public Policy, this ing the rights of the ac- justice review. Photo courtesy of Ashley Mak Ashley of courtesy Photo Photo courtesy of Ashley Mak Ashley of courtesy Photo

Participants engaging in interactive training sessions at the criminal justice training for ASEAN countries in Singapore

25 Singapore’s Ambassador to Laos, Dileep Nair (front row, 5th from left), joining Laotian justice officials and IBJ trainers IBJ Makes Its Debut in Laos The Singapore Justice Wakefield, an attorney and tion to prosecution to adjudi- criminal law, public speak- Training Centre conducted trainer from the public cation -- in multiple scenarios ing and oral presentation, its first training outside defender’s office in Orange involving drug, economic, negotiation, criminal justice Singapore in December County, California in the environmental, and human trends, leadership develop- 2011. The SJTC part- United States trafficking offenses. Judges ment in criminal justice nered with the Ministry of Officials from the from the Military, Supreme systems, and partnership Foreign Affairs’ Singapore Ministry of Public Security, and Appellate courts were building. Hypothetical case Cooperation Programme the Office of the Supreme also present, as well as law- studies required partici- to lead a criminal justice People’s Prosecutor, the yers from firms inside the pants to consider facts from standards and skills train- People’s Supreme Court, Ministry of Justice. the accused’s perspective. ing in Laos’ capital city, the Ministry of Justice, Designed to be highly The training emphasized ad- Vientiane. IBJ staff were the Ministry of National interactive and intensive, vocacy and analytical skills joined by volunteer trainers Defense, and the People’s the curriculum combined in combination with law to Wendell Wong, a dispute Appellate Court attended. lectures, workshops, and best serve and uphold the resolution director of the The participants practiced small-group discussions. rights of the accused. law firm Drew & Napier various criminal justice pro- Topics included trial advo- in Singapore, and Larisa cedures – from investiga- cacy, criminal procedure and

Wendell Wong of the leading a session at the 2011 IBJ/Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs joint training in Laos

26