Disciplinary law thriving on the return of the in person experience
PAUL COLSTON INTERVIEWS BOGOTA-BASED MARTHA LUCIA BAUTISTA CELY , SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF DISCIPLINARY LAW ( CIDD ) AND DIRECTOR OF COLOMBIA ’ S NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DISCIPLINARY LAW ( ICDD ). SHE IS THE ORGANISER OF BOTH ORGANISATIONS ’ CONFERENCE PROGRAMMES
T ell us about your national institute and international association and their memberships and activities , and about the importance of meetings to them . Both the International Confederation of Disciplinary Law ( CIDD ) and the Colombian Institute of Disciplinary Law ( ICDD ) are scientific organisations of professionals specialised in disciplinary law , and are dedicated exclusively to the study , development , research , advancement and improvement of disciplinary law and related issues .
The ICDD , a non-profit legal entity , has 70 founding members and is independent of state control agencies and focused on promoting disciplinary law within Colombia based in Bogota . The Institute promotes the importance of our discipline as an indispensable tool of the State and helps disseminate a culture against corruption and administrative dishonesty .
Our Colombian Institute offers academic support to public entities in their administrative management and legal security endeavours and works hand in hand with public servants in disseminating the regulations that govern them as well as seeing to their strict compliance . Another role is building up a public ethic in the fulfilment of official duties , through continuous academic conferences , workshops , seminars , diploma courses and congresses .
The creation of national institutions such as the ICDD is one of the primary objectives of the International Confederation of Disciplinary Law CIDD , which assists various countries in the creation of international disciplinary frameworks , including research and dissemination of disciplinary law . We also organise many international congresses .
Why are conferences / meetings and seminars so important to your members and also for meeting with professionals from other countries ? The Colombian Institute of Disciplinary Law ( CIDD ) has been recognised by the entire public sector for its successful contribution to the fight against administrative corruption . It has not only updated and improved the work and professionalism of its own associates but also primarily the activity of ‘ public servants ’, fostering in them a new level of care and responsibility in the execution of their tasks .
Of course , to ensure the public administration is a model of compliance , efficiency , effectiveness and impartiality , we need to constantly update the knowledge base . The importance of legal knowledge from the perspective of comparative law is indisputable and great value is gained through international conferences and the active
“ We used a variety of electronic meetings and virtual team events , with platforms such as Zoom , Microsoft Teams and Webex ” participation and networking of international experts .
How did you manage to keep in touch and e-meet during Covid-19 lockdowns , particularly with international contacts ? Which new event platforms did you use ? Due to the pandemic and measures adopted such as quarantine and self-isolation , we assumed various scenarios of remote work , as our organisations initially tried to manage communication via telephone , internet and by adopting new formats of interaction with team members and national and international colleagues virtually .
We used a variety of electronic meetings and virtual team events with platforms such as Zoom , Microsoft Teams , and WebEx .
We created events and worked with colleagues abroad , sharing best practices adopted by public administrations all coping with the pandemic . We exchanged public information on how best to cope and to avoid the greater risks for public administration in the face of a situation that was unpredicatable and never before experienced by any single state .
How important were your association ’ s remote meetings for your members in these circumstances and do you envisage keeping a hybrid and / or virtual element of meeting in your conference plans for the post-Covid future ? Having been able to maintain communication with our associates and colleagues , we did remain active in the new virtual legal environment , but it does not really fulfil our objectives .
With the increased relaxation of restrictions around the world , we are seeing the reactivation of our organisations and the return to in-person events is gaining momentum . However , the process is not as immediate as we would like and facing this
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