World Bar Conference concludes with Second Edinburgh Declaration

A declaration renewing and updating their commitment to the rule of law has been agreed by leaders of the bars represented at the 2016 World Bar Conference, as it concluded in Edinburgh at the weekend.

The Second Edinburgh Declaration, adopted by the International Council of Advocates and Barristers (ICAB), is a revised edition of ICAB's founding principles set out in the First Edinburgh Declaration, which resulted from its first conference, hosted by the Faculty of Advocates in 2002.

The Conference endorsed the text, which opens by affirming the rule of law as "one of the foundations of a just and economically successful society". Agreed additions to the text stress that the efficient functioning and adequate resourcing of the courts by the state is essential if they are to fulfil their constitutional role, and that effective access to justice for the poor and vulnerable requires an adequate publicly funded system of legal aid.

Member bars also commit themselves to "supporting, in all ways open to them, legal practitioners in all countries where their capacity to practise and organize themselves freely and independently is under threat", and bars and legal professions in countries where the independence of the profession or the rule of law itself is under threat.

ICAB member bars include those in Scotland, England & Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

James Wolffe QC, Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, commented: “The Second Edinburgh Declaration reflects the collective resolve of the world’s independent referral bars to support and promote the rule of law. The Declaration identifies the essential components of the rule of law – independent courts, an independent legal profession and effective access to justice – and it commits the bars which are members of the International Council of Advocates and Barristers to the crucial role which they play in their respective legal systems in promoting and protecting these fundamental values.”

Following the conference, the final session of which took place in the debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament, the Dean said he was "immensely proud" of the success of the event.

As well as the keynote opening address from the Lord President, the conference heard from Zimbabwean delegates on the challenges of standing up for the rule of law in their country, from the Independent Reviewers of Terrorism Legislation in the UK and Australia, from Professor Richard Susskind and others on the impact of technological change on the courts and the profession, and from Professor George Yarrow of Oxford University on the contribution of the law and the legal profession in underpinning a well-functioning market economy, among other distinguished speakers. The closing address was delivered by Lord Neuberger, President of the UK Supreme Court.

Mr Wolffe reflected: “It is not just the formal content of a conference such as this which matters. The conference provided us with an opportunity to meet and make friends with colleagues from around the world, advocates and barristers who share our fundamental professional commitments. I am glad that we were able to give our guests from four continents the best of Scottish hospitality.

“I would like to express my gratitude to the conference organising committee, led by Anna Poole QC, and to the Faculty’s staff, who put in so much hard work over many months to make this conference a great success.”

The next conference will be held in South Africa in 2018.