UEM Faculty of Law Delegation Shines at Scientific Week in Macau

The Faculty of Law of Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) had a prominent presence at the Scientific Week held in Macau. This multifaceted event brought together legal scholars and experts from several countries in three highly relevant forums: the Joint Conference between the Universities of Macau and Coimbra, the Joint Seminar on the Consolidation of the Rule of Law and the Challenges of Digitalization, and the 15th International Conference on Macau's Legal Reforms.

The Mozambican delegation was composed of:

- Professor Eduardo Chiziane, Director of the UEM Faculty of Law;

- Professor Lúcia da Luz Ribeiro, President of the Constitutional Council of Mozambique and Assistant Professor at UEM;

- Doctor Carlos Serra, Assistant Researcher at the UEM Faculty of Law;

- Master Amina Abdala, Pedagogical Deputy Director of the UEM Faculty of Law;

- Master Elysa Vieira, Professor at the UEM Law School.

- Professor Lúcia da Luz Ribeiro delivered the keynote address, "Constitutional Justice in the 50 Years of Mozambican Constitutionalism." Her presentation offered an in-depth analysis of the evolution of constitutional review in Mozambique, the challenges facing the Constitutional Council, and future prospects, emphasizing the crucial role of constitutional justice in guaranteeing fundamental rights and consolidating the rule of law.

- Professor Eduardo Chiziane moderated Session III, dedicated to Administrative Law. Under his leadership, the discussions on administrative discretion, cryptocurrency regulation, and the evolution of this area of ​​law in Macau were productive and thought-provoking, fostering a rich exchange of ideas.

On October 15, the seminar was co-organized by the Law Schools of the Universities of Macau, Agostinho Neto and Eduardo Mondlane.

-Professor Eduardo Chiziane presented the paper "The National Policy on Artificial Intelligence in Mozambique: What Paths to Follow?", in which he addressed the urgency of a national policy for AI, the intricate ethical and legal challenges and the opportunities for the country's socioeconomic development.

- Dr. Carlos Serra discussed "Digitalization and Climate Justice: Challenges and Opportunities for Environmental Law in Mozambique." His analysis explored how digitalization can be an ally in combating climate change and how it impacts Mozambican environmental law.

- Master Amina Abdala brought an important contribution to the debate with the presentation "Between Custom and Law: The role of community courts in the consolidation of the Mozambican Rule of Law", addressing the complexity and relevance of legal pluralism in Mozambique.

On October 16th and 17th, the conference focused on analyzing the reforms of Macau's Penal and Procedural Codes, with an emphasis on cybercrime, data protection and fundamental rights.

Master Amina Abdala delivered the paper "Criminal Liability of Legal Entities: Criteria for Imputation in Mozambican Law." Her explanation of the criminal liability of companies for environmental and corruption crimes sparked considerable interest and enriched the discussion on improving these legal mechanisms.

Master Elysa Vieira presented the topic "Mass video surveillance in the Maputo metropolitan region: Crime prevention or social control?", promoting a crucial debate on the boundaries between public security, mass surveillance, legal certainty, and human rights, with a strong impact on the local reality.

In a gesture of great symbolic significance, the Mozambican delegation donated a valuable collection of books by authors from the UEM Faculty of Law to the University of Macau library. This initiative represents a tangible strengthening of academic ties and a commitment to sharing and disseminating legal knowledge produced in Mozambique.

The delegation's participation was a success, generating concrete, long-term results for the Mozambican legal system. Key benefits include:

Exchange of experiences and knowledge: Sharing with international experts provided access to best global practices in various areas of law.

Strengthening partnerships: new contacts and collaboration agreements were established with institutions in Macau, Portugal, and other countries, opening doors for future exchange and joint research projects.

Innovation and Improvement of the Legal System: The insights and discussions developed during the week will serve as a fundamental basis for the formulation of new public policies and the improvement of national legislation, particularly in the areas of digitalization, criminal law, and constitutional justice.

 Committed to applying the knowledge acquired and solidifying the partnerships established, the UEM Faculty of Law thus reaffirms its leadership role in promoting legal development and consolidating the rule of law in Mozambique.