An International Baku Forum of Young Lawyers will be held on 26-29 April in our city. What's your view of this event?
Today Azerbaijan is the host of well-known international events in all spheres so it is no surprise that the event is being held here. As you know, our country has recently hosted a range of international events in science, education, culture, sport, world championships, global forums and conferences.
This embodies the increasing ascendancy, economic development and achievements of our country. The work and achievement in integrating into Europe have made Azerbaijan a reliable partner in holding international joint events.
Our country has joined the legal arena of Europe, and re-established the law, court and state administration system. The European Human Rights Convention and around 50 other European conventions have become an integral part of the country's domestic law. We are happy that this Forum will be held in Azerbaijan. This is the state's care for young people and the creation of a favourable environment for their work and initiative.
As you know, President Ilham Aliyev has adopted the State Program for Azerbaijani Youth for 2011-15. As a result of supporting and promoting these measures, today Azerbaijani young people gain places in all spheres and justify the confidence in them.
This forum is organized by the Azerbaijani section of the European Law Students' Association. Would you tell us about this organization and the goal of the event?
The European Law Students' Association (ELSA) is the biggest organization of law students in the world. This organization involves over 32,000 law students and young lawyers from 300 universities in 41 European countries. The headquarters of ELSA is located in Brussels.
The organization enables law students to develop their skills and gain new knowledge and provides a platform for communicate with European law students and professionals. Azerbaijan became a member of the organization in 2011 and started work under the ELSA-Azerbaijan name.
Since the beginning of its work, ELSA has realized a range of projects in Azerbaijan, organized moot courts and scientific groups, and supported dozens of young lawyers in attending international conferences and summer schools in Europe.
The moot court competition organized by ELSA-Azerbaijan prompted great interest among students.
The final round of this competition will be held in the Supreme Court of the Azerbaijan Republic as part of the International Baku Forum of Young Lawyers.
The organizers of this forum are also young lawyers. In a short time these young people developed close cooperation with the European Law Students' Association and established the Azerbaijani section of this organization.
The main goal of the event is to bring together young lawyers living in different countries of Europe, and discuss their educational and professional problems, work prospects and legal processes in the region and worldwide.
Wide-ranging reforms have recently been made in the legal sphere in Azerbaijan. What’s the level of involvement of young people in these processes?
First I must say that there is a rapid process under way of involving young people in all spheres in Azerbaijan. This process is part of state policy and is fully supported by Mr President. As with all other professions, the legal profession has not been left out of this process and has been dramatically renewed and rejuvenated.
Currently, 50 per cent of judges operating in the court system began working as judges in recent years. And 50 per cent of new nominees for judges are young people. Today 50 per cent of people working for the prosecutor's offices, justice and police structures are young. Eight per cent of staff working for the justice structures since 2006 are young. Thirty per cent of the 850 member lawyers of the Bar are under 40.
I have to note that these figures have been increasing in recent years and today's state policy in the youth sphere gives grounds to say that these figures will increase further in the coming years. The modern corpus of judges, bar, prosecution and police, which has been formed on the basis of transparent rules and in accordance with European standards, have become more dynamic, more sensitive and flexible to change, thanks to young professionals.
What would you wish to the participants in the International Baku Forum of Young Lawyers?
I am sure that this forum will open new, attractive and promising opportunities for young people wishing to master law and build a career in this sphere. The theme of the forum gives grounds to think so. As a logical continuation of the work done to date, this event will open a new chapter in international cooperation and bring us closer to our common objectives.
I hope that the initiatives of young people, friendship that breaks borders and work done to increase the knowledge of young lawyers will give positive results in a short period of time. I wish success to all participants in their professional life.