Qatar - Civil
During the May 2003 Middle East Rule of Law Conference (full
report), representatives of the Governments of Qatar, Oman,
Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates independently approached
ISDLS Executive Director Stephen Mayo to propose a civil justice
modernization initiative modeled on those conducted in Egypt
and Jordan. In June 2004, ISDLS entered into a cooperative agreement
with the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership
Initiative to conduct a civil justice program in each of these
countries.
The Arab Gulf programs began in December 2004 when Stephen
Mayo, Program Director and ISDLS Board Member Ed Davis, and
Regional Program Coordinator Magda Barsoum conducted an initial
consultation and assessment with the Ministers of Justice and
the Chiefs of Courts of each country. During the second phase
of the program, which is scheduled for spring of 2005, a legal
study group from each country will study civil justice reforms
in California.
By drawing heavily upon the experience gained in Egypt and
Jordan. ISDLS and the MOJs/Chiefs of Courts will be able accelerate
the adoption of civil justice reforms in the Gulf States. With
the assistance of ISDLS’ Program Coordinator, Mrs. Magda
Barsoum, members of each study group will consult with members
of the Egyptian and Jordanian study groups. Further, they will
travel to Jordan in autumn of 2005 to observe the implementation
of the Jordanian pilot project, before designing their own pilot
project upon return to Jordan. The legal study group will present
the results of their studies and their proposed pilot project
to their greater national legal communities at national conferences
in late 2005.
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