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GAZETTE
APRIL 1993
International Bar Association -
Annual Report 1992
Membership
Membership of the IBA now
numbers 142 Bar Associations and
Law Societies worldwide and 15,100
individual lawyers from 163
countries. The IBA is more than
four times larger than any other
international organisation of lawyers.
The IBA's Three Sections
Section on Business Law (SBL)
The membership of the SBL stands
at over 11,500 lawyers from 140
countries and it has 28 committees
and 71 subcommittees. The majority
of committees publish regular
newsletters. Many committees also
have active links with other
international bodies such as the UN
and the EC and a number have
formed regional groups holding local
meetings and preparing analyses and
reports on local developments of
international interest.
Sectionon General Practice (SGP)
This section largely deals with areas
of law and practice in the non-
business area and has a membership
of 2,800. There are 23 committees
which include committees on Human
Rights, Professional Ethics, Legal
Aid and Legal Education and these
are closely involved in the IBA's
Programme to assist lawyers in the
developing world. Most committees
publish newsletters.
Section on Energy & Natural
Resources Law (SERL)
SERL has six specialised committees
and a number of active regional
groups, particularly in the UK and
Germany. Through its Academic
Advisory Group, SERL maintains
close link with institutes all over the
world. Attendance at SERL's
advanced biennial seminars, which
have been held every two years since
1975, is considered a 'must' for
those working in the energy field.
The three Sections publish regular
journals sent free to members and 17
books written by their members were
published by the IBA in 1992,
available at a discount to all
members.
Conferences
There was a record attendance of over
2,800 lawyers from 103 countries
including more than 800 speakers and
over 950 guests at the Association's
24th Biennial Conference in Cannes in
September, 1992.
All 57 specialist committees of the
Association's three Sections held one
or two-day meetings of topical
relevance to most areas of legal
practice. Numerous social events
offered opportunities to create and
strengthen friendships and make
personal contracts with lawyers from
all over the world.
The 1993 Conferences of the Sections
on Business Law and General
Practice will be held on 10-15
October, 1993 in New Orleans.
SERL held its Tenth Advanced
Seminar in April in Washington DC.
235 delegates from 44 countries -
the greatest number ever represented
at a SERL Seminar - attended.
In addition, 18 other specialist
seminars were organised by the
Sections worldwide on topics such as
Banking, Telecommunications, the
Environment and Franchising. 19 are
planned for 1993.
Details of 1993 Conferences and
Seminars are available from the IBA.
Human Rights
The IBA Action Plan for Human
Rights was adopted by the Council
in Lisbon in May where President
Mario Soares of Portugal gave the
Second George Seward Lecture on
the theme of human rights. The plan
provides for a Trial Observers Corps
(observers were sent to trials in
Indonesia and Kenya during the
year), a register of members willing
to go on human rights inspection
missions and the appointment of
Human Rights Liaison Officers to
work with the IBA Human Rights
Committee by the 142 Bar
Associations and Law Societies
belonging to the IBA.