IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Co-Chair: Vladimir Passos de Freitas

In 2007, the Judiciary Specialist Group grew with the admission of new members, from Argentina, Brazil, Spain and Tanzania. The aim is to receive new ideas and new experiences, using them to the advantage of the group.

In June 2007, some members of the group, such as Nicolau Konkel Júnior (Brazil) and Nestor Cafferatta (Argentina) participated, with 80 more judges, in a seminar on Environmental Law, held in the city of Paraty, Brazil, which proved to be very useful for all the participants.

The next goal of the group is to reactivate the IUCN Portal, so that judges from every country will be able to have access to a number of judicial decisions from different Courts, which may serve as a foundation for similar decisions in other countries, members of Civil Law or Common Law.

During the CEL Specialist Group meeting in Istanbul, the Judiciary Specialist Group discussed with other groups the achievement of common goals, especially with the Oceans, Costal and Coral Reefs, Indigenous Peoples and Trade & Environment Specialist Groups.

There is still a lot to be done. One of the goals is to attract to the group more judges from Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. Contacts are already underway. Another proposal is the organization of regional essays contests on Environmental Law, addressed to judges. Therefore, it is necessary to find partners willing to disseminate Environmental Law.