Dr Birgit Grundmann, spokeswoman for the ‘Law and Economic Transformation’ Advisory Council, during the conference in Berlin Africa
In June, a two-day conference was held at our Berlin site on the topic of “𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗼𝗿 – 𝗙𝗼̈𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 “in Africa”, organised in collaboration with our partners, the Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection and the German Federal Bar Association.
We welcomed decision-makers from government, the judiciary, business, public administration, civil society and academia, both from our African partner countries and from Germany.
We were particularly delighted by the participation of our Vice-President, Ms Ramona Pisal. Two further members of our Board of Trustees, who also sit on the Advisory Council for “Law and Economic Transformation” – Dr Birgit Grundmann and Dr Lovro Tomasic – also took part in the conference and chaired panels on ‘Legal frameworks for investment in Germany and partner countries’ and ‘Legal certainty and investment protection’. Two further panels focused on ‘Dispute resolution and enforcement of rights’ and ‘Prospects and challenges for investment promotion’. In a very lively and constructive exchange, the participants jointly developed strategies for creating an investment-friendly environment.
Following the event, spokeswoman Dr Grundmann warmly thanked IRZ for organising this important conference with the African partner states: “It has demonstrated how significant the law is as a location factor and how business and civil society can benefit from a stable legal framework.”
Alexandra Albrecht, Chief Executive of IRZ, during her presentation Afrika
The focus of our information event, held in cooperation with the BRAK, was on the professional exchange between high-ranking representatives of the judiciary and law enforcement authorities from Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Mauritania, and Germany. Proven practical solutions were presented and discussed by members of IRZ Board of Trustees, including our Vice President, Ms. Ramona Pisal.
The event offered the delegations from our partner countries the opportunity to present their current challenges and reform approaches in their own countries. On the German side, Senior Public Prosecutor Ulrich Bremer spoke about the legal basis and practical approaches to alternative sanctions, and Pascal Décarpes, criminologist and international expert, spoke about the requirements and reviews in probation services.
For the African delegations, the information event was a special moment, as it gave them the opportunity to present their experiences in an official setting in Germany. Particular emphasis was placed on the successful introduction of alternative sanctions in Morocco, the implementation of rehabilitation programs in Algeria, the establishment of a probation system in Tunisia, and training courses on alternatives to pre-trial detention in Mauritania and Egypt.
Following the introductory remarks by BRAK President and IRZ Board of Trustees member Dr Ulrich Wessels, IRZ Chief Executive Alexandra Albrecht emphasized the importance of professional exchange on alternative sanctions for relieving the burden on the judiciary, humanizing the prison system, and promoting rehabilitation. Indeed, feedback from all participants confirmed that the event format facilitated a particularly open and constructive dialogue – a positive experience for both the German partner institutions and the delegations from North Africa.
The information event followed previous visits by the delegations to the BMJV, the independent organization Freie Hilfe e.V., the Plötzensee prison, and the Berlin Senate Department of Justice, thus offering a comprehensive perspective on German prison practice. The IRZ will continue to accompany the process and support the partner countries in the implementation and further development of alternative sanctions.
