Experts from international institutions, fair trade supply- and demand-side countries, civil society organizations and academia will gather in Rome on February 20-21, 2013 to discuss legal challenges, lessons learned and innovative legal practices in the promotion of fair trade, sustainable economic development and food security for marginalized communities around the world.

The roundtable, organized by the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), will feature legal expert panels discussing the legal foundations of fair trade, as well as innovative solutions to overcome regulatory barriers and provide producer communities and small and medium enterprises with access to new markets and economic opportunities During the event, IDLO will also showcase outcomes of a legal empowerment program focusing on indigenous communities in the Chimborazo mountainous region of Ecuador.

The roundtable will take place on:

Wednesday, February 20, from 15:00 to 19:00,
and Thursday, February 21, from 09:00 to 16:00
at the IDLO Headquarters in Rome, Viale Vaticano 106.

Please see a copy of the agenda attached. Press kits will be available in English and Spanish. For more information, to confirm attendance or arrange interviews, please contact Simona Beltrami on +39 3451323247, or e-mail sbeltrami@idlo.int