SustainabilityFocusRuleOfLawAt the 2021 IBA Global Showcase, Sanda Ojiambo, the CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact sent a clear message to the international legal community: “We cannot deliver on the UN Sustainable Development Goals without peace, justice and strong institutions”. Although the legal profession has a role to play in the effective implementation of most, if not all, of the 17 UN SDGs, and their translation into ESG activity, UN SDG 16 covering "Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions” lies at the heart of the IBA’s mission. The business of law is not possible without the Rule of Law, which in its turn requires peace, justice and strong institutions.

This showcase session, presented by the IBA Section on Public and Professional Interest, will focus on how UN SDG #16 provides a golden thread that runs through much of the IBA’s activity. The session will be interactive and innovative, aiming to:

• pool the ideas relating to SDGs and ESGs discussed at other conference sessions held earlier in the week, and connect them to “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions”; and 
• crowdsource the core content to ensure the IBA is actively collating key work on SDGs and ESG and sharing knowledge with members and others.

By drawing directly and immediately on the activities of IBA committees, sections and regional fora, we will build up a portrait of how the legal profession is contributing to UN SDG 16.

If you want to less talk and more action this is the session to be at! Contact us if you would like your IBA session or other committee activities to be part of this.

SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS sessions marked as such are part of the IBA Annual Conference 2022 sustainability focus on Tuesday and Thursday, grouping sessions discussing different aspects of ESG and sustainability across the different legal fields.