Working groups list: ALA

ALA - Asian Law Association

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About ALA

NOTICE: The ALA Exec. Body is still not fully staffed. We are looking for people to fill the following positions:
- Director of Communications (external liason w/ students, other student groups)
- Treasurer (our current treasurer wishes to resign but has agreed to stay on until we find a replacement).

Please contact ala@ualberta.ca

The goal of ALA is to introduce students to legal issues affecting Asia and persons of Asian descent in Canada, including but not restricting those persons of South Asian, East-Asian and South-East Asian ancestry. ALA believes in
(a) the importance of intercultural understanding between Canadians regardless of ethnicity and
(b) relations between Canada and the countries of Asia. As the presence of persons of Asian descent continues to grow in the legal profession, their contribution to civil society will becoming increasingly important to the collective well being of all Canadians. For Canadians of Asian heritage, ALA provides means to develop a fuller understanding of the impact of legislation on their communities past and present. At the same time, Asia occupies an increasingly prominent place in international affairs. ALA seeks to examine among other things such issues as human-rights in Asia, issues involving international law and international organizations in Asia and the growing importance of Asia in world affairs.

For the coming year, ALA hopes to host talks and discussion groups. Its first talk of the year, "Critical Perspectives on Islamic Law" (by Dr. Saleem Qureshi) has been scheduled for February 3, 2005.

Tentative topics for the school year commencing September 2005 include:

  • The impact of an expansion in the U.N. Security Council on Asian relations
  • The historical impact of immigration legislation on Asian-Canadian communities

Whenever possible, ALA hopes to invite special guest lecturers and/or speakers from inside or outside the University of Alberta to speak on such topics. ALA will also convene monthly meetings and group socials (e.g. dinner and movie presentations) throughout the year.