Leonel Fernández Signs Between Funglode and The New York City Bar Association to Strengthen Academic and Democratic Cooperation and the Development of Judicial Systems

New York – The former President of the Dominican Republic and President of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (Funglode), Dr. Leonel Fernández, headed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Funglode and The New York City Bar Association, one of the most influential legal organizations in the United States. The goal of the Memorandum is to strengthen academic and institutional cooperation, and to promote joint initiatives aimed at the development and strengthening of judicial systems.

The agreement, jointly signed by Muhammad Faridi, president of The New York Bar Association, strengthens a strategic alliance that will focus on the development of exchange programs, joint academic activities, the organization of specialized forums, and launching of research projects that promote critical thinking, advanced legal training, and international dialogue.

This initiative aligns with Leonel Fernández’s vision of positioning the Dominican Republic as an active participant in key global forums through the institutional work carried out by Funglode, further strengthening the rule of law, institutional modernization, and international cooperation.

When referring to the importance of the agreement, Leonel Fernández emphasized that cooperation with internationally renowned entities contributes decisively to the strengthening of democratic values ​​and institutions.

“By cooperating with internationally renowned institutions such as The New York City Bar Association reinforces our conviction that knowledge, law, and dialogue are essential pillars for the strengthening of democracy, judicial systems, and development,” he stated.

The Memorandum of Understanding contemplates the organization of conferences, seminars and academic exchanges, as well as the promotion of joint initiatives in legal research, democratic governance, public policy analysis and best practices for the strengthening of judicial systems. It also encourages the participation of academics, scholars, legal professionals and students from both the United States and the Dominican Republic.

With this initiative, Leonel Fernández reaffirms his commitment to institutional strengthening, the country’s international projection, and the building of cooperation networks that contribute to democratic development, thus consolidating Funglode as a space for strategic thinking, training, and global dialogue.

This alliance with The New York City Bar Association represents a significant step toward the consolidation of Funglode as a regional benchmark in international cooperation and legal expertise, aligned with a vision of development based on legality, democracy and the exchange of ideas on a global scale.