Closing Speaker: Dr. Peter Biar Ajak

Following the full day of panels and paper presentations, Dr. Peter Biar Ajak acted as the closing speaker. Ajak is a prominent civil society leader, political dissident, and scholar from South Sudan. He is the founder of the Juba-based Center for Strategic Analyses and Research, chair of the South Sudan Young Leaders Forum, and Senior Advisor to the International Growth Centre, an economic research center based at the London School of Economics. Ajak has served as an economist with the World Bank and as coordinator of policy and strategy in the Office of the Minister of National Security in the Office of the President of South Sudan. He is an outspoken advocate for free and fair elections who was imprisoned in South Sudan as a result of his work for free democratic elections. Ajak spoke about his experiences in Sudan and more sustainable ways of eradicating abuses in global supply chains. Ajak closed with an impassioned call for strengthened democracy, “The only way that we can ultimately eradicate these kinds of abuses from anywhere in the world is by promoting democracy.”
To conclude the conference, Giunta offered final remarks. She gave a special thanks to Catholic Law for partnering with Paul Hastings LLP to put on the conference, as well as to each of the panelists and attendees for their time. Those attending the conference in person were then invited to Keelty Atrium for a reception.