9th Congress
of the
European Women Lawyers Association (EWLA)
Programme is subject to change
European Lawmaking and Practice
Fundamental Rights and Financial Markets
July 3-4, 2009
Venue
National Centre for Cultural Heritage
115 Hverfisgata, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Further information:
www.ewla.org
Thursday 2nd July 2009
Thursday 2 July 2009
17.30-20.00 Blue Lagoon light supper and refreshments (see information on how to get there etc) hosted by the Icelandic Women Lawyers’ Association/ Bathing in the Blue Lagoon optional and using other facilities http://www.bluelagoon.com/Bath/What-to-do/ at own expense.
The Blue Lagoon
Reykjavík at night
Friday 3 July 2009
National Centre for Cultural Heritage (Þjóðmenningarhús), 115 Hverfisgata, 101 Reykjavík
Inside the Centre for Cultural Heritage
08.15-09.00 Registration/Inscriptions/Coffee and Pastries
09.00-09.15 Welcome by President of EWLA, Ms. LEENA LINNAINMAA
09.15-09.20 Opening of congress
09.20-11.00 Panel: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FINANCIAL CRISIS"
Chair:
Prof. Dr. HERDÍS THORGEIRSDÓTTIR, Vice-President of EWLA.
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Speakers:
Mr.EINAR MÁR GUÐMUNDSSON, the most widely translated Icelandic author comments on the reality of the financial collapse in Iceland, setting the stage. Mr. Guðmundsson just published a book on this issue, The White Book, which has been translated in Scandinavia, Germany and elsewhere.
Key speaker is Norwegian/French magistrate EVA JOLY. She is known all over Europe for her battle to uncover corruption at highest levels and her determination to see justice done.
11.00-11.30 Coffee Break
11.30-12.20 Panel discussion/questions: ICELAND the first casualty of the global crisis
Ms. ELÍN HIRST, main news anchor Icelandic State Broadcasting, Mr. JÓN BALDVIN HANNIBALSSON, former foreign minister of Iceland, Ms. ÞÓRA KRISTÍN ÁSGEIRSDÓTTIR, journalist, Morgunbladid, Ms. GUDFRÍDUR LILJA GRÉTARSDÓTTIR, member of Parliament (Left Green Party) and Ms. ÓLÖF NORDAL, member of Parliament (Independence Party) and Elvira Mendez Pinedo, expert in EC law.
Guðfríður Lilja Grétarsdóttir
Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson
Ólöf Nordal
Þóra Kristín Ásgeirsdóttir
Elvira Mendez Pinedo
12.20-14.00 Lunch at Solon Islandus (included in basic congress fee)
Menu
A choice between the fish course of the day with fresh salad, sauce, potatoes or/ Chicken salad Solon - fresh salad with chicken breast, feta cheese, nachos, ginger dressing, sun dried tomatoes and cream cheese, spiced up with horseradish sauce
Coffee/tea
14.00-15.30 Workshop: "Corporate Social Repsonsibility"
Chair:
Prof. Dr. BEATE RUDOLF, Free University Berlin
Speakers:
Ms. GABRIELLE C. KLUG, City Treasurer and Board Member, Transparency International (German Chapter)
Ms CAROL XUEREF, Director for Legal Affairs and Group Development Essilor International S.A..; Ms. Berglind Ásgeirsdóttir, Permanent Secreatry Ministry of Health. 
Carol Xueref
Berglind Ásgeirsdóttir
Gabrielle C. Klug
14.00-15.30 Workshop: "Financial Crisis and Family Breakdown"
Chair:
Ms. HJÖRDÍS HÁKONARDÓTTIR, Supreme Court Justice
Hjördís Hákonardóttir
Speakers:
Ms. SIGRÍÐUR INGVARSDÓTTIR, District Court Attorney, Ms. DÖGG PÁLSDÓTTIR, Supreme Court Attorney and Ms. BRYNHILDUR FLÓVENZ, lecturer, faculty of law, University of Iceland.
Dögg Pálsdóttir
Brynhildur Flóvenz
14.00-15.30 Workshop:Law Making and Practice in Turbulent Times
Chair:
Prof. dr. CHRISTA TOBLER, Europa Institute of the University of Basel and University of Leiden
Speakers:
BEATRICE CASTELLANE, Avocat at the Paris bar, AEFJ president, business lawyer; dr. ELVIRA MENDEZ PINEDO, lecturer European law, University of Iceland discuesses the legal relations of Iceland and Europe in the context of historical, political and legal crisis. Ms. GUDRUN SESSELJA ARNARDÓTTIR, attorney, specialist in criminal law focuses on the danger of compromising the rights of defendants in criminal cases and others who need to seek justice in these turbulent times.
Beatrice Castellane
Elvira Mendez Pinedo
Guðrún Sesselja Arnardóttir
15.30-16.00 Coffee break/ Icelandic chocolates
16.00-17.30 Panel: New Equality Strategies for Very Uncertain Times
Chair:
Ms. ELISABETH KOTTHAUS (née Mueller), EWLA past President
Elisabeth Kotthaus (centre) behind Cherie Blair at the first EWLA congress in 2000.
Speakers:
Ms. RAGNA ÁRNADÓTTIR, Minister of Justice, Ms. Ragnhildur Hjaltadóttir, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Communications; Ms HELGA JÓNSDÓTTIR mayor; Prof. dr. Christa Tobler, Europa Institute of the University of Basel and University of Leiden.
Ragnhildur Hjaltadóttir
Kristbjörg Stephensen Reykjavík City Attorney - host at reception
17.30-19.15 Reception for all participants at the City Hall
Reykjavík City Hall
The bridge from the City Hall to Iðnó, the old theatre.
20.00-23.00 Dinner at IÐNÓ the old theatre by the Pond
Master of Ceremonies Ms. THORUNN HAFSTEIN, Permanent Sectretary Ministry of Justice. The menu. Dining will take place on the ground floor - in the old theatre itself with a terrace by the Reykjavík pond.
Thorunn Hafstein
Saturday 4 July 2009
09.00-10.30 General Assembly of EWLA
Presentation of the Candidates for the election to the EWLA board; election board members
10.30-11.30 Workshop: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS IN THE FUTURE OF EUROPE"
Chair:
Ms. LENIA SAMUEL, Deputy Director General of DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunites, the European Commission.
Speakers:
Ms. SOPHIA SPILIOTOPOULOS, Attorney and Councellor of Law, Athens, past Vice -President of EWLA;
Ms. ELISABETH KOTTHAUS (née Mueller), EWLA past President, Ms. DÓRA SIF TYNES, LLM in European and Comparative Law, General Counsel, CLO/ of Teymi.
Sophia Spiliotopoulos (far right) at the EWLA congress in Budapest in
2005
Elisabet Kotthaus
10.30-11.30 Workshop: Markets and Risk Management
Chair:
Ms MAIRE LAITINEN, Senior Legal Counsel , Fondia (FI), "Changing role of the corporate legal function and risk management"
Maire laitinen
Speakers:
Ms. LEENA LINNAINMAA, EWLA President and Director, the Central Chamber of Commerce of Finland,; Ms. VANESSA WILLIAMS, partner Baits, Wells and Braithwaite, LLP, Consultant; Ms. TANYA ZHAROV, General Councel of Auður Capital calls her intervention "Is it true? -The Icelandic Situation and Risk Management" and SIGURBJÖRG SIGURGEIRSDÓTTIR policy and system analyst discussing "Markets, Democracies and Risk Management."
Tanya Zharov
Vanessa Williams
10.30-11.30 Workshop: Gender-Based Violence and Justice
Chair:
Ms. GUÐNÝ HALLDÓRSDÓTTIR, screen writer / film director
Speakers:
Prof. JACKIE JONES, Bristol Law School will talk about "dignity as essence in law and morality." Ms. SVALA ÓLAFSDÓTTR, lecturer in criminal law and criminology at Reykjavík University addresses the issue of poverty and sex offences against children - is there a link? Ms. SIGRÍÐUR FRIÐJÓNSDÓTTIR vice state prosecutor discusses the prosecutions role in the fight against gender based violence. Ms. THELMA ÁSDÍSARDÓTTIR is a "pioneer victim" in breaking the ice and openly discussing her personal experience of incest. She is the author of a book on the topic and will tell her story about growing up in poverty and violence.
Thelma Ásdísardóttir
11.30-12.30 Lunch at Solon Islandus (included in congress basic fee)
Menu
A choice between Tapas dish Sólon - dish with tapas, smoked salmon, parma-ham, crab salad, chicken sticks, monk-fish stick, fresh salad and bread served with aioli and sweet chili sauce or/ Sólon seafood soup, cream tomato base soup, full of fish and shell fish, scalop, prawn, salmon, mussels and more.
Coffee/tea
12.30-14.00 Closing Session and General Assembly (2)
Results of the workshops and resolutions
14.15 Departure for the Golden Triangle, Thingvellir, Gullfoss, Geysir.
A bus will pick up participants who have registered for this trip outside the venue at 14.15 and take them to the magnificent Gullfoss Waterfall, the world famous Geysir and the National Park of Thingvellir, the seat of the oldest parliament in the world. Dinner at the legendary bishopry Skálholt. Delicious medieval dinner made from the Bishop's 14th century recipes. (Estimated time of arrival back in Reykjavík around 23.00 hrs.) Participants should wear something comfortable, warm (be prepared for rain) and comfortable walking shoes.
Skálholt painting from 1789
Menu at Skálholt: Middle Ages Feast
Saint Thorlak's Bishop of Skálholt "Bill of Fare"
Main courses
-
Goase Soup
-
Fresh Trout with Angelica Leaves
-
Grilled Puffins (Arcidae - Great Auk) with Chieftain sauce
-
Fried cuts of Lamb
-
Loaf of bread, Whole meal bread, Wheatcakes
Desserts
- Almond Pie, Iceland Moss Biscuits
- Cowshed cheese, almonds, dates, raisins
Drink:
Saint Thorlak's Mead
23.00 Estimated time of arrival back in Reykjavík
Gullfoss
Thingvellir
Geysir
If you have questions concerning programme email: herdis@bifrost.is
Questions regarding registration email: mariae@bifrost.is
Questions concerning Blue Lagoon email: mg@acta.is
Questions concerning Golden Circle trip email: dogg@dp.is
The official congress language will be English.