“World We Want” Podcast Features Efforts to Leverage Technology for Advancing the Rule of Law

LexisNexis Southeast Asia managing director Gaythri Raman discussed her unit’s initiatives leveraging AI-powered legal innovations to transform the legal business while supporting the advancement of the rule of law in a recent interview with Dr. Márcia Balisciano, Director of Corporate Responsibility at RELX Group, as part of the “World We Want” podcast series featured on the RELX Group SDG Resource Centre.  

“I dream of a world where we all agree on a set of fundamental rights for all living things,” Raman said. “Where humans are able to empathize with the pain and the happiness of our fellow human beings and, most importantly, also that of all species.”

Among the undertakings supported by LN Southeast Asia is a mobile court in north Borneo, Malaysia. Judges, attorneys, government officers and staff travel periodically into remote jungle areas to provide legal services to the indigenous population. The dates of sittings by the mobile court are published well in advance so that the local residents can travel to the location to receive services.

One of the critical services provided by the mobile courts is birth registration, the key to citizenship in Malaysia, a requirement for access to government services and education. Children whose birth is registered within 45 days are automatically granted citizenship; others must petition the court for registration by appearing before a judge and providing testimony from an official or midwife as to the date of birth. Raman told the story of Rosnah, a 16-year-old girl who walked for seven hours to appear before the court to register and receive citizenship, then turned around and made the seven-hour trek back home so that she would be in time to take her national exams. 

The mobile court is set up in a different village each time. LN Southeast Asia leadership and employees take turns making the arduous trip to participate in the court. The volunteers travel by four-wheel drive vehicles, light aircraft and boats and stay in tents while working at the court site.

“Although it may seem a little bit tough and rough going, the impact that we make by going there and our ability and the opportunity that we get to participate in something as meaningful as this, it just outweighs a little bit of discomfort we may experience in traveling there,” Raman said.

The SDG Resource Centre aids researchers and the public by providing access to critical content that informs understanding about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promulgated by the United Nations in its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and adopted by 193 states at the United Nations in 2015. The aim of the Resource Centre is to support the UN in implementing the SDGs and increase understanding of the SDGs for customers, governments, researchers, companies, NGOs, and individuals. The Centre contains articles, reports, tools, webinars, videos, legal practical guidance and discussion groups on science, law, business, and events from across RELX Group and its divisions. Content is tagged by relevant topic and region and grouped according to the specific SDG addressed.

The 17 SDGs are:

• No Poverty
• Zero Hunger
• Good Health and Well-Being
• Quality Education
• Gender Equality
• Clean Water and Sanitation
• Affordable and Clean Energy
• Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• Reduced Inequalities
• Sustainable Cities and Communities
• Responsible Consumption and Production
• Climate Action
• Life Below Water
• Life on Land
• Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
• Partnerships for the Goals

Additional information about projects related to the rule of law supported by LexisNexis is available on the LexisNexis Rule of Foundation’s website.