Hakeem on Right to protect

Issues of mutual interest and measures for greater cooperation between the legal entities of India and Sri Lanka were discussed at recent meetings Justice Minster Rauf Hakeem had with his Indian counterpar t, Salman Khurshid, the Law Minister as well as the Attorney General of India Goolam Vahanvati during a visit to New Delhi.

At the invitation of Prof Rahmat Mohamad, the Secretar y General of Asian African Legal Consultative Organisation (AALCO), headquar tered in New Delhi, Minister of Justice and SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem visited India from 23-27 Januar y 2012 in his capacity as the current President of AALCO. .

Minister Hakeem met the Secretar y General and other officials of AALCO on 24 Januar y 2012 where a range of legal and other issues of common interest for Asian and African nations were discussed. High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in India Prasad Kariyawasam accompanied the Minister at these meetings.

Addressing the New Delhi based Liaison Officers of AALCO, he thanked AALCO for the opportunity provided to Sri Lanka to host the milestone 50th Annual Session of the Organisation in Colombo in June 2011. Sri Lanka, is among one of the seven founding members of the AALCO and has the unique honour of chairing the newly constituted Eminent Persons Group of AALCO.

Describing AALCO’S contribution in the international legal arena as groundbreaking, Minister Hakeem referred to the law of the sea, concept of archipelagic states, Bangkok Principles on treatment of stateless persons and refugees, law related to trafficking of women and children, as areas in which AALCO’S contribution has been substantial.

He flagged some of the present challenges such as climate change, WTO related issues, Intellectual Proper ty Rights, international terrorism, piracy and cyber crime where fur ther deliberations are needed.