Rule of Law

Foreword by Jo Beckett, General Manager, LexisNexis Australia

Advancing Together, Vol 4, Issue 1, June 2015

Jo Beckett

In March 2015, LexisNexis held a Pacific Consultation Workshop in Sydney with the critical purpose of ensuring that our region is included in a global framework. It will ultimately take the form of a guide for all businesses on how they can support the rule of law. In collaboration with the local United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the Workshop initiated and enabled dialogue related to new ways in which to strengthen the rule of law in order to build stable and fair societies, where business can flourish locally and within our region. The Pacific Report has been submitted to the United Nations, and is set to launch in June 2015 with action points for businesses and relevant parties to develop tailored plans for their company; build a community of business leaders; and key success metrics in advocating the rule of law principles.

The rule of law is a principle of governance in which all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including the State, are accountable to laws that are publicly promulgated, equally enforced and independently adjudicated, and which are consistent with international human rights norms and standards. It also requires measures to ensure adherence to the principles of supremacy of law, equality before the law, fairness in the application of the law, separation of powers, participation in decision-making, legal certainty, avoidance of arbitrariness and procedural and legal transparency. The rule of law is essential for sustainable and inclusive economic growth: where it is weak, it is harder for responsible businesses to function and to meet their corporate responsibilities.

We believe that when you put information and technology into the right hands, you give people the power to shape justice and advance society. Among other things, the rule of law ensures legal systems foster economic investment by increasing the security of contracts, lowering levels of corruption, and allowing for timely, fair, transparent and predictable resolution of disputes. We are confident we have the most significant impact when we apply our expertise to areas like universal, sustainable access to information, promotion of the rule of law and access to justice.

LexisNexis will retain its commitment and passion to pursue these initial overarching objectives of spreading the rule of law throughout the Pacific and creating relationships with authoritative legal agencies to make the law more accessible where possible. In 2015, we are continuing with the workflow and automation for the Vanuatu Ministry of Justice on LexisVisualfiles®; expanding the Fiji Law Reports; publishing analytical text works for Papua New Guinea; developing gratis online access to legal materials for the Supreme Court of Nauru and the Tongan Ministry of Justice; and launching the Business for Rule of Law Framework with the United Nations Global Compact; as well as pursuing further opportunities in the Pacific.

Upon its creation, in 1215, the Magna Carta agreement was not honoured by King John, and over the centuries it has been refined, forgotten and revived again. It is with great honour that we publish our Advancing Together: Magna Carta edition celebrating the momentous 800- year anniversary of the charter that has arguably formed an initial foundation for democracy and influenced a preliminary understanding of the rule of law. Remarkably, one of the four original copies is in Australia, and with eight centuries on the charter, it remains an important symbol of the rule of law and the principle of basic freedoms. It is a privilege to celebrate this anniversary and to continue discussions around the rule of law with the legal community to enable the advancement of society.

With kind regards,

Jo Beckett
General Manager
LexisNexis Australia

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Advancing the Rule of Law around the World

The rule of law is a concept that unifies our company across the globe and is passionately supported by the people of LexisNexis.

We’re committed to actively working to advance the rule of law, through our day-to-day business, products and services, and actions as a corporate citizen by:

  • Providing products and services that enable customers to excel in the practice and business of law, and that help justice systems, governments, and business to function more effectively, efficiently, and transparently;
  • Building legal infrastructures for developing nations;
  • Documenting local, national, and international laws and making them accessible in print and online to individuals and professionals in the public and private sector;
  • Partnering with governments and non-profit organisations to help make justice systems more efficient, transparent and advance the rule of law;
  • Supporting access to justice by corporate citizenship initiatives that strengthen civil society and the rule of law across the globe, including pro bono.

Community Contribution

As part of a regional commitment to the rule of law, LexisNexis Asia Pacific has implemented a program of support that enables local communities and developing nations to gain access to materials and guidelines, essential to the proper administration of justice and advancement of society.

Fiji Law Reports

The Judicial Department of Fiji selected LexisNexis as their publisher for the authorised 2012 volume of Fiji Law Reports enabling legal practitioners in Fiji to excel in the practice and business of law and assist the judiciary, governments and businesses to function more effectively, efficiently and transparently. Read more Back to top



Practical Guidance: Slave Free Seas

Slave Free Seas provides legal assistance for victims — and promotes prosecution where possible — along with programs to raise public awareness of the problem, research into the extent of human trafficking around the world, and advocacy for legislative change.

LexisNexis has worked with Slave Free Seas to produce a publicly-available, free resource to assist those helping victims to seek justice, in any jurisdiction around the world, and to encourage the legal pursuit of those who try to profit from human trafficking. Read more Back to top



Lexis Visualfiles for Vanuatu

Vanuatu Ministry of Justice selected LexisNexis as their preferred supplier for workflow and process automation, following a request for tender process. LexisNexis will implement a Court Management system using Lexis Visualfiles to enable more efficiencies and productivity whilst addressing the rule of law. The project will include business analysis, project management, configuration, data migration and training to name a few.Back to top


Business for the Rule of Law

In October 2014, the pilot consultation workshop was held in Myanmar with top corporations, law firms, associations, intergovernmental organizations and the UN in attendance. In Early March, 2015 LexisNexis held a Pacific Consultation Workshop in Sydney with the critical purpose to ensure that the Pacific region is included in a global Framework that will ultimately take the form of a guide for all businesses in how they can support the rule of law.

The Pacific workshop was held with senior representatives of the legal communities, academics and NGOs. In collaboration with the local UN Global Compact Network Australia, the Workshop initiated and enabled dialogue about new ways to strengthen the rule of law in order to build stable and fair societies, where business can flourish, locally and within the Asia Pacific region. Read more Back to top



Transparency of the Legal System

"There can be no Rule of Law unless there is access to the basic sources of law."

— TJ Vilijoen, CEO, LexisNexis Asia Pacific

 

Rule of Law cannot exist without a transparent legal system, the main components of which are a clear set of laws that are freely and easily accessible to all, strong enforcement structures, and an independent judiciary to protect citizens against the arbitrary use of power by the state, individuals or any other organisation. Read moreBack to top

 

Rule of Law | LexisNexis

Advancing the rule of law around the world is a concept that unifies our company across the globe and is passionately supported by the people of LexisNexis.

Advancing Together is free bi-annual publication that brings together views and insights from thought leaders in the legal sphere, delving into current affairs and developments that impact the advancement, and in some cases the erosion, of the rule of law in Asia Pacific.

"In March 2015, LexisNexis held a Pacific Consultation Workshop in Sydney with the critical purpose of ensuring that our region is included in a global framework. It will ultimately take the form of a guide for all businesses on how they can support the rule of law. In collaboration with the local United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the Workshop initiated and enabled dialogue related to new ways in which to strengthen the rule of law in order to build stable and fair societies, where business can flourish locally and within our region." Read more

— Jo Beckett, General Manager, Australia

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"The Rule of Law is a fundamental driver for advanced societies, providing certainty and access to justice for individuals and corporations. Legal content and technology organisations interact on many levels to support the Rule of Law (local and global, online and print, free and commercial), connecting various stakeholders with authoritative content and rich data via a range of platforms and channels suited to the individual’s or organisation’s needs." Read more

— Marc Peter, Director of Sales and Marketing, UK 

Download Previous Issues

Rule of Law - July 2014 | LexisNexis Asia-Pacific Advancing Together: Rule of Law Updates and Perspectives from Australia, July 2014 Rule of Law - December 2014 | LexisNexis Asia-Pacific Advancing Together: Rule of Law Updates and Perspectives from Australia, December 2014
Rule of Law - June 2013 | LexisNexis Asia-Pacific Advancing Together: Rule of Law Updates and Perspectives from Australia, June 2013 Rule of Law - December 2013 | LexisNexis Asia-Pacific Advancing Together: Rule of Law Updates and Perspectives from Australia, December 2013
Rule of Law - September 2012 | LexisNexis Asia-Pacific Advancing Together: Rule of Law Updates and Perspectives from Around the World, September 2012 Rule of Law - December 2012 | LexisNexis Asia-Pacific Advancing Together : Rule of Law Updates and Perspectives from Australia, December 2012
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