Meeting of small Commonwealth jurisdictions to focus on law reform

Law ministers and attorneys general from small Commonwealth jurisdictions will meet at Marlborough House in London from 4 to 5 October 2018.

Since 1983, law ministers and attorneys general of small Commonwealth jurisdictions (LMSCJ) have been meeting every three years to discuss common challenges and experiences. The last meeting of the LMSCJ was held in London in 2016. Click here for outvcomes

Now meeting bi-annually, law ministers and attorneys general of small Commonwealth jurisdictions will hold their discussion this year under the theme ‘Resilience Through Law Reform.’

Key objectives:

The meeting provides an opportunity to discuss challenges common to small Commonwealth jurisdictions and innovative ways to overcome them. Law ministers and attorneys general will share good practices from their countries and explore ways to support each other.

Delegates will discuss the benefits of commercial arbitration in increasing access to justice, taking into account the vulnerability of small states across the Commonwealth. They will also review their international obligations with regard to arms control, with a focus on domestic implementation. 

Legislative drafting and the production of well-drafted laws, which adequately address developments and the needs of evolving societies, remain a constant challenge for small Commonwealth jurisdictions. The role of the Commonwealth Secretariat in assisting member countries in that regard will be discussed. 

As the majority of small Commonwealth jurisdictions are small island states, the impact of rising sea levels on the maritime jurisdictions of nation states is of particular concern. Law ministers and attorneys general will also look at their role in protecting the ocean, in line with the Commonwealth Blue Charter adopted at the last Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2018.

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