MUSCAT: The GCC Commercial Arbitration Center (GCAC), in cooperation with the Omani Lawyers Association (OLA) and the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, inaugurated on Wednesday the 10th GCC Forum of Lawyers and Arbitrators.
Addressing the opening session, the union honorary chairman, Prince Dr. Bandar bin Salman bin Mohammed Al Saud, said that lawyers and arbitrators shoulder a great responsibility. Arbitration, he stressed, is a support mechanism for the judicial system, not a competing venue.
For his part, OLA Chairman Jihad bin Abdullah Al Taie also addressed the gathering, noting that such meetings aim at boosting interaction and discussion among people of the profession, in order to realize its social aim of guaranteeing justice. They also provide opportunity for law offices and legal consultancy bodies to partner up and create GCC bodies.
Harmony between Rule of Law and a society's culture, norms, and identity is essential to any nation's progress and prosperity, he pointed out. Without it, he further argued, things would slip into chaos and survival of the fittest and societies would be engulfed in and consumed by divide and confrontation.
During the event ,held under the theme "Towards Supporting the Rule of Law", and lasts till April 11, at the Inter-Continental Hotel Muscat, the conferees are to discuss issues including an Omani draft law on the profession, the experiences of GCC women in the field, syndicates laws, and issues affecting national lawyers associations.
The focus is on achievements to date, alternative means for arbitration, and inaction of the GCC Lawyers Union since its establishment.
The system is approved worldwide in recognition of its advantages, which include parties' freedom to choose arbitrators and arbitration center, along with secrecy and faster processing and decision.
On the theme of this year's gathering, he said Rule of Law which does not violate Islamic Shariah (jurisprudence) is the objective the region seeks.
The two-day sessions are held with participation of delegations from the GCC Secretariat General, as well as from unions, associations, and national committees of lawyers in the GCC states, and a group of lawyers, arbitrators, advocates, academics, representatives of commerce chambers, and students of law. (QNA)
