Addis Ababa: The 14th Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) conference, which is set to discuss on several pressing issues affecting legal practice in the continent, kicked of today at AU Head Quarter, in Addis Ababa.

The conference gathered representatives from 54 national lawyers’ associations and 5 sub-regional associations, along with thousands of legal professionals from across Africa and the diaspora.

Under the theme ‘Africa as a Global Powerhouse: Empowering Minds, Enlightening Paths,’ the four-day conference aimed at amplifying the voices of African lawyers on critical legal matters.

Its objectives include promoting and protecting fundamental human rights, safeguarding the independence of judges and the legal profession, and advocating for good governance and democracy across the continent.

The agenda will cover a range of topics, including the independence of the legal profession, cross-border commercial disputes, the sovereign debt crisis, and other pressing issues affecting legal practice in Africa.

Participants drawn from Africa and other parts of the world including bar associations continental and international advocacy organizations are attending the conference.

PALU, Established in 2002, is the premier continental forum of and for lawyers and lawyers’ associations in Africa.

It aims at reflecting the aspirations and concerns of the African people and to promote and defend their shared interests.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency