Judges Discuss Development of Environmental Law in the Arab Region
Building on the momentum of UNEP's Global Judges Forum held at the WSSD this past August, more than 50 judges from Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Yemen (together with a judge from Australia) met in Kuwait from October 26-28, 2002 for the First Conference on the Role of the Judiciary in the Development of Environmental Law in the Arab Region.

This follow-up to the INECE-cosponsored WSSD Judges Forum was hosted by the State of Kuwait, in cooperation with the Arab Regional Center for Environmental Law, the IUCN Environmental Law Programme, and UNEP. Issues addressed during the conference included the need for specialized environment courts and the importance of environmental education for law students and for the judiciary. Professor Nicholas Robinson, Chair of the Commission for Environmental Law, addressed the conference about the ongoing efforts of IUCN and UNEP to actively engage the judiciary from around the world. A copy of the address is available online.

European Judges Recognize Importance of Environmental Enforcement
Judges from across Europe met in London, October 10-11, 2002, to discuss implementation of the WSSD Plan of Implementation, insofar as it relates to the role of the judiciary in achieving sustainable development. The Symposium address numerous issues, including: ability of citizens to obtain access to the courts, the pros and cons of establishing specialist environment courts, the principal features of environmental rights and liabilities in Europe, and the role of judges in developing the law. Lord Woolf, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales opened the Symposium, which was convened by the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law. INECE partner Donald Kaniaru, Director UNEP, also addressed the meeting. The Symposium agreed by acclamation to the 'London Bridge Statement', which recognizes "the value to society of enhancing the ability of citizens to obtain access to the courts to further enhance the effective implementation, compliance with, and enforcement of, environmental laws." The full text of the Statement is available online.