Asylum, FGM, and the Law

Laurence joined the World bank Legal Vice-Presidency as Counsel and Project Manager for the Global Forum for Law, Justice and Development in 2018. She comes to the Bank with over 20 years of experience as a Lawyer in the Private Sector in international law issues (mostly Africa and Middle East). Prior to joining the Bank, Laurence worked at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was in charge of legal support to fragile and emerging countries (human rights, access to justice, rule of law and land governance). Laurence holds two Masters (postgraduate) in European Economic Law from University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and a Master in Public Policies in Africa from Sciences Po Paris.

Attorney Kamal Nawash has practiced law as a trial lawyer in Washington DC for more than 20 years.  He began his career as an immigration and family law attorney and in 2008, he transitioned from immigration and family law to contract law with focus on commercial disputes.  Mr. Nawash has litigated cases in administrative, state, and federal courts.  He also argued appeals before state supreme courts and federal courts of appeals. Mr. Nawash has successfully litigated several cases of first impression, including an asylum case before the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals on Female genital Mutilation that became binding law in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia. Finally, Mr. Nawash represented the United States as a delegate to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Helene Gacon is a French attorney admitted to practice in Paris and an Expert at the French National Bar Council. Since 1990, Helene is a recognized expert in General litigation, immigration and asylum, private international law, domestic and European labor litigation. Helene is also a teacher at the Dalloz Formation Métiers publics, at the association Forum Réfugiés-Cosi and numerous Bar Associations and law schools in right to migrants, refugees, and Asylum Seekers. She is covering multiple topics such as: social protection, citizenship, protection of unaccompanied minors, civil status of French nationals and foreigners.

Isabella Micali Drossos is a French and Brazilian lawyer. She joined the Bank in 1999 and has worked since then as an operational lawyer in Africa, Latin America and the Pacific Region. She has a passion for issues related to gender-based violence (in particular Female Genital Mutilation and Domestic Violence) and collective happiness and well-being in development. She holds degrees in law and in economics from the University of Paris, an LLM from the London School of Economics and a PhD in international public law from the University Pantheon-Sorbonne.