Regional pro bono forums unite to present the Asia Pro Bono Exchange – save the dates

Building on the expertise and the momentum of the four annual Asia Pro Bono Conferences held since 2012 (Laos, Vietnam, Singapore and Myanmar) co-organized by BABSEACLE and its consortium partners, and PILnet’s Asia Pro Bono Forums (Hong Kong, 2014 and Bangkok, 2015), the two come together this year to present the Asia Pro Bono Exchange (APBX) to be held in Bali, Indonesia from 30-31 August 2016.

The APBX will bring together a growing and influential community of lawyers, law-schools, bar associations, NGO representatives, and policy makers who recognize the urgency of developing pro bono in order to tackle key issues in pro bono practice development in Asia and Indonesia.

The event aims to provide a deeper and broader perspective on pro bono practice development in the region and globally, and offer a vital setting where participants can build alliances, learn from each other and explore how they can best collaborate to address critical issues of social justice.

Both organisations have strong networks throughout the region with PILnet having offices in Hong Kong and Beijing and BABSEACLE operating regionally from Chiang Mai, Thailand with other offices and team members based in Myanmar, Singapore, Laos and Vietnam. Both organisations bring unique, yet complementary, strengths and characteristics to their events, and so the APBX promises to be a catalytic event for the further development of pro bono culture in the region.

Yet to be confirmed are the side-events to be held on the days before and after the two-day APBX but these are likely to include the PILnet clearinghouse workshop catering for those who run or work with pro bono clearinghouses or are interested in doing so, or would like to add a pro bono clearinghouse function to their work. Other likely side events include a human rights workshop providing an opportunity to meet with key NGO’s from the region, and events focused on public health and pro bono, legal education and pro bono, and legal ethics.

For further details as they are confirmed visit the new APBX website.

The APBC is a consortium member for this event.