Topics to be considered at the MENA Conference will fall under the broad theme of Access to Justice given the region’s growing concern with this issue. The Conference program will explore the concept of Access to Justice in legal, political, social, economic, and cultural contexts related to the notions of ‘rights’ and ‘justice’ for all people, especially disadvantaged groups (youth, women, minorities, etc.). The program will focus on the barriers to Access to Justice, addressing topics such as: the national legal frameworks for Access to Justice in the MENA region; best practices for raising awareness of basic legal rights; and the
impact of strengthening Access to Justice through multidisciplinary coalitions and partnerships. Of particular focus will be the interface between international, national, and traditional justice mechanisms—including how future advances in the Rule of Law in the MENA region will address disparities between secular and Islamic laws.