Conference on “Law and Digitisation” in Tunis

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Published: June 3, 2022
Inauguration of the conference. On the podium (from left to right): Hatem Rouatbi, Head of the Research Centre for Dispute Resolution and Enforcement Methods of the Faculty of Law and Political Science Tunis El Manar; Mustafa Ben Letaief, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science Tunis El Manar; Mohamed Abidi, Head of the project area for Africa at IRZ (Image: IRZ)
Inauguration of the conference. On the podium (from left to right): Hatem Rouatbi, Head of the Research Centre for Dispute Resolution and Enforcement Methods of the Faculty of Law and Political Science Tunis El Manar; Mustafa Ben Letaief, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science Tunis El Manar; Mohamed Abidi, Head of the project area for Africa at IRZ (Image: IRZ)
Tunisia

The topic of the conference was “Law and Digitisation”, which was organised by IRZ on 4th and 5th March 2022, together with the Research Centre for Dispute Resolution and Enforcement Methods of the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the University of Tunis El Manar in Tunis.

Dr Lars Bierschenk, Judge in the Regional Court of Bonn, previously deputised to the Central IT Service Provider of the Judiciary of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (ITD), participated in the hybrid format of the conference. There were around 200 participants in all.

The following experts took part from Tunisia:

  • Hatem Rouatbi, Head of the Research Centre for Dispute Resolution and Enforcement Methods of the Faculty of Law and Political Science
  • Chawki Gaddes, President of the National Authority for the Protection of Personal Data (INPDP)
  • Kamel Rezgui, Lecturer at the University for Communication in Tunis and Lawyer at the Court of Cassation
  • Badii Ben Abbes, Civil Court Judge, Grade Three, Sfax
  • Kaouther Selmi, Managing Director “SIMARL” (Legal service provider in the area of alternative dispute resolution)
  • Mélanie Clément-Fontaine, Professor at the University of Paris-Saclay
  • Valérie Laure Benabou, Professor at the University of Paris-Saclay
  • Khaylan Ben Abdessalem, Doctoral Candidate and Member of the Research Centre for Dispute Resolution and Enforcement Methods

The following topics were discussed, among others, during the conference:

  • Digitisation and Data Security
  • Online elections and E-Democracy
  • Algorithmising the law and digitisation of the judicial service
  • Digitisation and Civil Disputes
  • Effects of digitisation on contract law
  • Electronic legal transactions in Germany

Digitisation is a current topic right now in the judicial system, which is discussed as an opportunity with several obstacles. In this context, the focus of the conference was on legal aspects and methods of digitisation with regard to the legal systems in Tunisia, Germany and France. The discussions also addressed the peculiar challenges of digitisation in the field of the judiciary system, the legal effects on digital transition and the question, how far can the legal system keep up with digitisation. There was an overall consensus that digitisation now is a central challenge, which must be accompanied by law.

IRZ is planning more in-depth events in 2022 on this topic.