On 19 October 2026 The Royal University for Women (RUW), in collaboration with the International Institute for Justice Excellence (IIJE), hosted the international hybrid conference “Building Strategic Alignments for a More Effective Administration of Justice” in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The conference brought together senior members of the judiciary, legal professionals, academics, legal practitioners, law students, and representatives of judicial and legal institutions from Bahrain and around the world exploring emerging developments and strategic priorities in the administration of justice.
The conference reflected a shared commitment to advancing justice systems through strategic alignment, institutional cooperation, international exchange, technological innovation, and stronger connections between legal education and judicial practice.
The conference was opened by His Excellency Shaikh Khalid bin Ali bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council and President of the Court of Cassation, Professor Riyad Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women and on behalf of the IIJE, Mr. Jeffrey Apperson, Chairperson of the Institute.
UIHJ was represented by its first vice-president, Jos Uitdehaag, who made a presentation on “Transformation of justice and legislative and regulatory frameworks”.
The conference aimed to foster stronger working relationships between law schools, courts, judicial institutions, legal professionals, and justice-sector stakeholders, with particular emphasis on strategic planning, institutional cooperation, access to justice, technological innovation, and the future of legal education.
The programme addressed a range of contemporary issues, including Strategic Planning and Institutional Integration in the Administration of Justice; Access to Justice and Public Trust in Light of Universal Principles; Alternative and Digital Dispute Resolution Mechanisms; Artificial Intelligence and Automation in the Administration of Justice; The Development of Legal Education and the Future of the Legal Profession; and Digital Transformation of Justice Systems and Legislative and Regulatory Frameworks.
The conference featured distinguished international judges, legal experts, academics, and justice-sector professionals from numerous jurisdictions on all continents. Their participation provided an important platform for exchanging international experiences, perspectives, and best practices in regard to the administration of justice.
A particular emphasis of the conference was placed on strengthening the role of law schools and professional legal training institutes in developing the capacity of justice systems and ensuring that future legal professionals, including enforcement agents, are better equipped to respond to emerging developments in legal practice. In that respect, the conference explored how innovation and technology can contribute to more effective, accessible, and responsive justice systems.
