A SUMMARY OF THE DUBLIN CONFERENCE

The VI Conference of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) was held in Dublin, Ireland in May, 2002. It was officially opened by Mary McLease, the President of Ireland, who congratulated women Judges, especially the older ones for having blazed a very bright trail that gave those who came after an easier and much less cluttered path to follow.

The theme of the Conference was "JUDICIAL CREATIVITY" which was highlighted by Dr. Angela Ward, a barrister and a reader in Law at the University of Essex, England, who gave the Key-Note address which demonstrated how Judges can empower themselves and create Law out of those International and Regional Instruments which have been acknowledged by their National Governments by way of ratification.

Both the Right Hon. Beverly Mclachlin P.C., the Chief Justice of Canada and Hon. Mr. Justice Roman Keane, the Chief Justice of Ireland responded to Dr. Ward's paper but from different points of view.

The Chief Justice of Canada expressed the point that where the existing statutory Law is lacking, the courts can use the International and Regional Instruments and Human Rights Law to enforce the statutes.

The Chief Justice of Ireland on the other hand, adopted a more guarded and conservative approach by arguing that Judges should, as much as possible endeavour to stick to the traditional role of applying the Law in the statutes as it is and leaving Parliament to plan the role of making the Law through legislative enactment.

The response from the women Judges assembled showed that Dr. Ward's Paper went a long way in achieving its intended purpose of opening up the minds of the delegates to the realization of the fact that Judges do create Law.

The Conference was also addressed by the then High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, who was formerly the President of Ireland. She noted with concern that knowledge and sources of International Instruments and Human Rights is lacking amongst Judges. Consequently, she suggested that training and sensitisation of Judges on these laws is an urgent requirement if the quality of justice is to improve. She also underscored the need for collaboration between the Judiciary and the various United Nations bodies, especially on the issue of Human Rights.

The Conference's 5 days deliberations was well documented in
a summary dubbed "THE DUBLIN DECLARATION".

Thereafter, the banner of the IAWJ was passed to Hon. Justice Laetitia Kikonyogo, the Deputy Chief Justice of Uganda, whose Country will host the VII Conference of International Women Judges Association in May, 2004, in Kampala - Uganda.