Rule of law perspectives from Asia-Pacific: Advancing Together

01 December 2016 | Joanne Beckett, Managing Director Australia, LexisNexis

As businesses seek to create and grow in new markets around the world, strong rule of law brings with it several beneficial economic imperatives. Corporate citizens have a very important role to play and, as a global business, LexisNexis® prides itself on its contribution to advancing the rule of law.

Most recently, we partnered with the Australian Human Rights Commission to update and republish Federal Discrimination Law, a text that will not only assist everyday Australians in better understanding their rights, but also help businesses to identify and comply with their obligations. We have consolidated the legislation of the Maldives – the first full consolidation of Maldivian legislation– and created an online platform to provide full access in both English and the native Dhivehi.

We continue to work with the Office of the Attorney-General in Fiji to consolidate and publish the Laws of Fiji in hard copy and online to increase public access. We also continue to support projects in the newly emerging democracy of Myanmar through discussions with various stakeholders across the Government, private and international development sectors. Through these, and many more projects past and present, we aim to have a tangible impact on quality of life and access to justice for people in the Asia Pacific region.

This is our tenth issue of Advancing Together, and in this issue we are exploring perspectives of rule of law development from around the Pacific through the eyes of several knowledgeable, passionate authors.

Melissa Tun observes the changes and opportunities emerging from rapid growth and transformation in Myanmar's corporate sector. Emily Langford's article examines the role of business in bridging the gap between Vanuatu's split state justice system and kastom, or customary law faced with rampant domestic violence.

James Waugh looks at the standing of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) and the legitimacy of similar institutions in dispute resolution around the South China Sea. What role do these institutions play in not only strengthening rule of law, but promoting social and economic stability? Amanda Alford looks at the positive impacts of Australian Community Legal Centres in providing access to justice for the disadvantaged, and the threats currently being faced by the community legal sector.

Ann Zhang examines access to justice for fishing businesses in the South China Sea, at a time where the focus on international territorial dispute resolution risks overshadowing the plight of marine environmental conservation in the region. Gaythri Raman chronicles the issues from the lack of a functional land registration system that has seen farmers forced from their land in Myanmar, while Georgie Leahy invites you to try the LexisNexis Rule of Law Impact Tracker, which provides a graphic representation of the impact of increased rule of law against a number of social and economic indicators.

All of these articles are pertinent to our work in advancing the rule of law and we look forward to continuing to share stories of the ongoing developments in these areas.

We hope you enjoy the read.

Joanne Beckett
Managing Director
LexisNexis Australia


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