On 15 March 2023, the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, delivered a speechÌýat the 40th Annual International Humanitarian Law Seminar organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the New York University.Ìý The purpose of this seminar is to inform new delegates from the permanent missions of members states to the United Nations of recent developments as well as contemporary issues and challenges in the field of international humanitarian law.
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The Legal Counsel first paid homage to Professor Theodore Meron for his lifelong commitment and contribution to the development of international law.Ìý The Legal Counsel then highlighted his hope in multilateralism and diplomacy with regards to international law, as illustrated by the recent agreement reached at the United Nations on a historic legally binding international instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.
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With regards to international humanitarian law, the Legal Counsel detailed the legal framework applicable to detention conducted by United Nations peacekeeping operations.Ìý Noting the specificities of UN operations with robust mandates (such as MONUSCO and MINUSMA), he explained how relevant provisions of international humanitarian law and UN-specific instruments, such as the 2021 Standard Operating Procedure on The Handling of Detention in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and Special Political Missions, are combined to ensure that detentions by the UN are consistent with applicable international humanitarian, human rights and refugee laws, norms and standards.
