port vil, vnutu LR 2 8 00 ustrlsin Lw Reform gencies Conference 10-12 September 2008 Port Vil, Vnutu
S r C Th i L D U Welcome It is with gret plesure tht the University of the South Pcific (USP) invites you to join us in Port Vil, Vnutu, in September for the biennil ustrlsin Lw Reform gencies Conference. LRC 2008 will bring together representtives of lw reform gencies from cross the region for progrm of dynmic spekers, engging workshops nd importnt networking opportunities. V c w 3 N Conference Progrm The loction of this yer s LRC conference in Vnutu provides n excellent opportunity to focus on lw reform issues tht hve prticulr relevnce to the Pcific region. The conference hs cpitlised on this by the choice of session topics nd the inclusion of Pcific expertise in reltion to those topics. Despite this focus, the brod themes of the conference re of universl relevnce, nd prticipnts from the Pcific Rim nd from further field will find much of interest in the conference. The progrmme hs been designed to llow mple time for questions nd comments from the floor in ll sessions. Dy One of the conference begins with registrtion t the University of the South Pcific Emlus Cmpus in the lte fternoon, nd welcome ddress by the Chief Justice of Vnutu on whether judges mke good lw reformers. This will be followed by welcome reception hosted by the New Zelnd High Commission, Melnesin Bnquet, nd culturl performnces by USP student groups. D w D Dy Two of the conference will be held t the principl conference venue Le Lgon Resort on Erkor Lgoon. fter keynote ddress on Genertion of Reforming Lw nd Justice in the Pcific, conference sessions will focus on three prcticl lw reform topics the birth nd rebirth of lw reform gencies; regionl coopertion in lw reform; nd securing resources for lw reform. The conference dinner will be held t the conclusion of Dy Two t the Wtermrk Resturnt on Iririki Islnd. Dy Three of the conference continues t Le Lgon Resort. The morning sessions focus on n often neglected re of lw reform, nmely, reforming constitutions, which hs been of specil significnce to mny newly-independent ntions of the Pcific. This will be followed by session on reforming the lw nd legl institutions to promote humn rights. The finl session of the conference is intended to ddress serious topic in light-herted fshion with debte on whether lw reform gencies re the best vehicles for lw reform. The conference will close with function sponsored by the ustrlin High Commission. 2
bout Vnutu Vnutu is n rchipelgo of 83 islnds with unique blend of intct tribl communities, resorts, beches nd geogrphy rnging from ccessible volcnoes to pristine underwter environments. The rchipelgo is locted in the South Pcific Ocen, 1750 km est of ustrli, 500 km north-est of New Cledoni, west of Fiji nd south of Solomon Islnds. It ws nmed New Hebrides during its colonil period (1906-1980), when it ws jointly dministered by the United Kingdom nd Frnce. The unique blend of locl kstom, with English nd French influences, mkes Vnutu n exotic Pcific destintion. Vnutu is only 2.5 hours flying time from Brisbne, 3.5 hours from Sydney, nd little over 2 hours from ucklnd. There re regulr flights from ustrli (Sydney, Brisbne), Fiji (Ndi), New Cledoni (Noume), New Zelnd (ucklnd) nd Solomon Islnds (Honir). Spring is one of the best times to visit Port Vil. September generlly brings wrm sunny dys nd mild nights, with tempertures rnging from 20 to 27 C. Light weight csul clothing plus sweter is usully sufficient. Tourism nd wether informtion is vilble from: Conference Venue nd ccommodtion The principl conference venue is Le Lgon Resort, where both full dys of the conference progrmme will be held. Le Lgon Resort is locted 3 km from Port Vil. The resort is situted on 75 cres of exotic tropicl grdens on the edge of the pristine Erkor Lgoon. Locted on Vnutu s min islnd, Efte, you re sure to experience the true South Pcific chrm of the Vnutu islnds. S N e W S M i t C b b C Delegtes wishing to sty t Le Lgon Resort cn tke dvntge of specil conference rtes, which re vilble for the nights of ccommodtion bookings for these nights must be mde directly with USP Delegtes who wish to sty dditionl nights, whether before or fter the conference block booking, must mke their booking directly with Le Lgon t stndrd rtes. It is importnt to indicte tht you re prt of USP s block booking when you mke these rrngements. Their contct detils re s follows: s. Le Lgon Resort Vnutu Erkor Lgoon, Port Vil, Vnutu Detils of lterntive ccommodtion re vilble on the website of the Vnutu Tourism Office t the ddress given in the section bout Vnutu. Port Vil provides wide vriety of ccommodtion options t rnge of prices. Pcific Bllroom t Le Lgon Resort 3
Socil Events Networking opportunities re n importnt focus of ny LRC conference nd USP hs orgnised severl events to llow delegtes to socilise, while tking full dvntge of some of Port Vil s most spectculr ttrctions. Welcome Reception South Pcific Emlus Cmpus. The reception will be hosted by the New Zelnd High Commission nd will follow the welcome ddress by the Chief Justice of Vnutu. Melnesin Bnquet islnd food. University student groups will lso give culturl performnces typicl of their Pcific Islnd ntions, demonstrting tht their tlents extend well beyond the lw! Return trnsport will be provided between Le Lgon resort nd USP. Conference Dinner ber 2008. The resturnt is situted on the shore of Irirki Islnd with views towrds wterfront. Return trnsport will be provided between Le Lgon Resort nd the resturnt. Closing Reception Closing Reception will be held for delegtes on the evening of Fridy 12 September 2008. The reception will be sponsored by the ustrlin High Commission. 4
LRC 2008 Drft Progrmme Dy ONE Wednesdy 10 September (USP, Emlus Cmpus) Registrtion nd Melnesin Night 16:00-17:00 - Registrtion t Conference room 17:00-17:30 - Opening ddress by the Chief Justice of Vnutu 17:30-18:30 - Welcome reception hosted by New Zelnd High Commission 18:15-19:00 - Culturl performnces by USP student groups 19:00-21:00 - Melnesin Bnquet Dy TWO Thursdy 11 September (Le Lgon Resort) 08:15-9:15 - Registrtion Continued 09:15-10:00 Session 1 Welcome nd Keynote ddress - Welcome - Keynote ddress, Genertion of Reforming Lw nd Justice in the Pcific 10:00-10:30 - Morning Te 10:30-12:00 Session 2 The birth nd rebirth of lw reform gencies - Cycles in Lw Reform - Estblishing Commission in Solomon Islnds - new lw reform commission for Smo - Estblishing lw reform commission in Vnutu 12:00-13:30 - Buffet Lunch t the Wild Ginger Resturnt 13:30-15:00 Session 3 Regionl coopertion in lw reform - Prospects of regionl lw reform body - Role of the Pcific Islnds Forum Secretrit in regionl lw reform - Government Legl Officers s vehicles for regionl coopertion - Prtnering lw reform gencies on the Pcific Rim - Tipping Point: Hrnessing regionl interest in Pcific lw reform 15:00-15:30 - fternoon te. 15:30-16:30 Session 4 Resources for Lw Reform - Hrnessing id nd other resources for Pcific lw reform - User-driven lw reform in smll islnd ntions - Working smrter, not hrder: The role of informtion technology - Pcific legl dtbses nd their role in fcilitting lw reform 18:00-22:30 - Conference Dinner t Iririki Islnd Resort 18:00 - Bus deprts from Le Lgon Resort to Iririki jetty 18:30-22:00 - Dinner t Wtermrk Resturnt. Bookings Essentil 22:00-22:30 - Deprt Irirki jetty to Le Lgon Resort 5
LRC 2008 Drft Progrmme Dy THREE Fridy 12 September (Le Lgon Resort) 09:15-10:00 Session 5 Keynote ddress - Keynote ddress: Reforming the fundmentl lw: constitutionl chnge & community eduction 10:00-10:30 - Morning Te 10:30-12:00 Session 6 Reforming the rchitecture of legl systems - Legl Politics of constitutionl reform in the Pcific - Constitutionl reform in Tong - Constitutionl reform in Nuru 12:00-13:30 - Buffet Lunch by Erkor lgoon 13:30-15:00 Session 7 Reforming the lw to promote humn rights - Humn rights treties nd Pcific constitutions - Converging currents: Custom nd humn rights in the Pcific - The role of ntionl humn rights institutions in the Pcific - Trde, id nd humn rights: reform gend 15:00-15:30 - fternoon te 15:30-16:45 Session 8 re lw reform bodies the best vehicles for reform? debte - Cse for the ffirmtive - Cse for the Negtive 16:45-17:00 Conference Close 17:30-19:00 - Closing reception sponsored by ustrlin High Commission, Port Vil 6