02 Jul 2010

30 June 2010

 

 

 

 

Dear _____________,

 

Greetings!  The Philippine Organizing Committee which is hosting this year’s Conference of Lawyers in the Asia-Pacific (COLAP) wishes to invite you to attend the Fifth COLAP to be held at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, Manila on September 18-19, 2010.

 

COLAP will be attended by lawyers, jurists, law professors and law students as well as the academe and NGOs from the Asia Pacific Region including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. It is equally open to interested participants from other countries outside the region. It is regularly organized by the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL), an NGO with consultative status with ECOSOC and UNICEF. The first COLAP was held in 1988 in New Delhi, India. COLAP II was held in Tokyo, Japan in 1991 while COLAP III was held in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2001. COLAP IV was last held in Seoul, South Korea in 2005. 

 

The theme of COLAP V is Human Rights and Peace Amidst Global Economic Crisis and Conflict. The conference brings together progressive lawyers and other human rights advocates to discuss issues of human rights, development and peace in the region. We expect around 200 foreign delegates and 100 local delegates.  We have invited luminaries and experts as speakers and resource persons around the globe from the legal profession and other disciplines.

 

Attached to this letter is further information on COLAP V. For more queries, please write the COLAP Secretariat at colapv2010@gmail.com or colapv2010@yahoo.com. You could also contact us at telephone number +632 9206660 or fax number +632 9272812. Should you wish to register for attendance, please consult our website at http://colapv2010.net/ .

 

Kindly consider this as our formal invitation to you for also visa purposes as may be necessary.

 

Please feel free to forward this invitation letter to fellow progressive lawyers and human rights advocates. The Conference Secretariat remains at your disposal should you have any further information you may need.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

ATTY EDRE U. OLALIA

Head, Philippine Organizing Committee for COLAP V

Acting Secretary General, National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in the Philippines (NUPL)

Bureau Member, International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL)

 

 

 

Additional Information on COLAP V

 

Objectives

 

COLAP V aims to provide a forum for lawyers, law students and other peace and human rights advocates from the region to:

 

Discuss and deepen understanding of the human rights and peace situation in the Asia-Pacific in the context of international recession;

 

Share experiences in the struggle for human rights and peace and draw lessons from such experiences; and

 

Bring to the attention of the region vital issues that affect human rights and peace at the international and global regional levels.

 

Programme

 

Day 0:  Sept. 17 (Friday)

Registration of Delegates

 

Day 1:  Sept. 18 (Saturday)

 

Opening Presentation

Welcome Remarks

Introduction to COLAP V

Introduction of Delegates

Messages from the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL)

   and the Host Country

 

Inspirational Message

Keynote Speeches

Presentations:

   Impact of the Global Economic Crisis and Conflict on Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific

   Impact of Global Economic Crisis and Conflict on Peace and Human Development in the Asia-Pacific

   Alternative Lawyering as a Tool for Human Rights Protection

 

Simultaneous Workshops:

Workshop I        U.S. Aggression and Military Intervention in the Asia-Pacific

(Impact on policy of Obama’s presidency) 

Workshop II       Impact and Implications on Civil and Political Rights

Workshop III      Impact and Implications on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights

Workshop IV      Developing and Ensuring an Independent Judiciary and Legal Profession

Workshop V       Impact on Women and Children

 

Caucus of Law Students

Official Dinner by Host Country

Day 2: Sept. 19 (Sunday)

 

Simultaneous Workshops:

Workshop VI      Assessing National, Regional and International Human Rights Mechanisms

Workshop VII     Fighting Against Corruption in Public Office for Good Governance

Workshop VIII    Threats to Peace and Peace-Building in the Asia-Pacific

Workshop IX       Assessing Laws Concerning the Environment and their Implementation

 

Special Seminar – Host Country Situation: The Philippines

 

Closing Remarks

Solidarity Dinner

 

Venue

 

SMX, Mall of Asia, Pasay City, Metro-Manila, Philippines.  It has a view of the famous Manila sunset by the bay. It is near the airport and is in the midst of the commercial and business area.  It is also accessible to the media, representatives of peoples’ organizations and other guests.

 

Dates

 

The conference proper of COLAP V will be on September 18-19, 2010. Delegates have the option to stay longer after the conference to attend major human rights activities scheduled in the period and/or venture into alternative tourism.  The Host Secretariat will circulate information about them later.

 

Registration

 

A list of hotels near the conference venue will be circulated later so delegates can make their reservations directly via the internet. Hotel daily rates range from USD 50–75 per person.  Those who need assistance may contact the Host Secretariat.  

 

Registration Fees (For questions, please contact the Host Secretariat.)

 

Category	Before August 1, 2010	From August 1, 2010
Lawyers   Option 1*   Option 2**	USD 200 USD 150	USD 250 USD 200
Academe	USD 100	USD 150
NGO	USD   80	USD 120
Law Students	USD   50	USD 100
*    Lawyer for 10 years or more **  Lawyer for less than 10 years

 

 

 

Visa

 

The Philippines has no pre-travel visa requirement for those coming from the ASEAN countries and the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan as well as most of Europe. Examples of countries with visa requirements are North and South Korea and those from South and Central Asia.  The Host Committee will issue later a more complete and updated list of countries with and without visa requirements.

 

Those coming from countries covered by visa requirements may apply under the Expedited Visa Program announced recently by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration.  It is available in the bureau’s website. Delegates who need assistance will please get in touch with the Host Secretariat.

 

 For more information, please contact:

Philippine Organizing Committee

COLAP V Host Secretariat

c/o NUPL (National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers)

3/F Erythrina Building, # 1 Maaralin Street cor. Matatag Street

Central District, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

Phone:  63 2 9206660   Telefax:  63 2 9272812

E-mail:  colapv2010@gmail.com; colapv2010@yahoo.com

Website: http://colapv2010.net/