News from Bureau des affaires juridiques

Seminar on Treaty Law and Practice at UNHQ

RNAZIRBO — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 21:32:00 +0000

On 5 and 6 December 2024, the Treaty Section of the Office of Legal Affairs conducted two Seminars on Treaty Law and Practice at UN Headquarters in New York for representatives and legal advisers of Permanent Missions and as well as international organizations. The Seminars were conducted in English and in French and brought together participants reflecting a wide geographic distribution in a lively exchange.

The Seminar is designed to increase awareness of the diplomatic community on issues pertaining to the international treaty framework. It aims at facilitating the work of Member States in joining multilateral treaties deposited with the Secretary General and registering treaties under Article 102 of the Charter. The members of the Treaty Section discussed the depositary functions of the Secretary-General, as well as the registration and publication of treaties. They also presented case studies, and actively engaged with participants in stimulating exchanges of views about treaty law and practice.

This year the Seminar also featured a guest presentation by a representative of the Department of Legal Matters of the International Court of Justice’s Registry on Advisory Proceedings of the International Court of Justice, and included a live feed from the ongoing hearing in the advisory proceeding on climate change taking place in the Hague.

In addition to the capacity-building workshops held twice a year at UN Headquarters in New York, the Treaty Section also conducts workshops upon invitation by Member States or interested organizations at the national and regional levels. Resolutions 76/120 of 9 December 2021 and 78/236 of 22 December 2023, the General Assembly invited states and interested organizations and institutions to make voluntary contributions towards the financing of regional and national workshops on treaty law and practice.

More information regarding the Treaty Section capacity-building programmes can be found on the United Nations Treaty Collection website.

The Treaty Section delivers a Regional Workshop on Treaty Law and Practice for ASEAN Member States

RNAZIRBO — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:43:00 +0000

On 12-13 November 2024, the Treaty Section of the Office of Legal Affairs conducted a Regional Workshop on Treaty Law and Practice in Singapore for representatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States. This capacity-building event marked the first of such workshops organized for the Asia-Pacific region in 14 years and was made possible with the collaboration and support of Singapore and of the Centre for International Law of the National University of Singapore.

The Workshop brought together 51 representatives from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Viet Nam, for two days of discussions and exchanges on various aspects of treaty law and practices. Topics included the role and practice of the Secretary-General of the United Nations as depositary of multilateral treaties, Treaty-making at the United Nations, and the registration and publication of treaties under Article 102 of the UN Charter. The programme also featured specialized sessions from representatives of the Attorney-General’s Chambers of Singapore and from a faculty member of the National University of Singapore, who provided insights, respectively, into treaty practices in Singapore and within Asia-Pacific regional organizations.

The Treaty Section organizes capacity-building workshops twice a year at UN Headquarters in New York, and at the national and regional levels upon invitation by Member States or interested organizations. Notably, in its resolutions 76/120 of 9 December 2021 and 78/236 of 22 December 2023, the General Assembly invited states and interested organizations and institutions to make voluntary contributions towards the financing of regional and national workshops on treaty law and practice.

More information regarding the Treaty Section capacity-building programmes can be found on the United Nations Treaty Collection website.

Informal Meeting of Legal Advisers, 21 and 22 October 2024

RNAZIRBO — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 18:27:00 +0000

The Informal Meeting of Legal Advisers, organized this year by Sweden, was held on 21 and 22 October 2024, marking the opening of “International Law Week.” In his opening remarks, the Acting Legal Counsel congratulated the International Law Commission on its 75^th anniversary, highlighting its pivotal role in the progressive development of international law and its codification.

In keeping with established practice, the Acting Legal Counsel also provided delegations with information regarding recent developments in international law, including the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice regarding the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, as well as those related to international humanitarian law, the safety and security of peacekeepers and the inviolability of UN premises at times of armed conflict.

Other discussed topics included the relevance of the BBNJ Agreement and the recent Summit of the Future, including the adoption of the Pact of the Future which placed international law at the center and stated that every commitment in the Pact is fully consistent and aligned with international law.

States take significant strides in strengthening the multilateral treaty framework during the 2024 Treaty Event

RNAZIRBO — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 15:41:00 +0000

Under the theme of “Strengthening the Multilateral Treaty Framework”, the Treaty Event, organized by the Office of Legal Affairs from 24 to 27 September 2024, gathered twenty-five States from all UN regional groups, which, represented by their Heads of State or Government, Ministers or other high-level ranking officials, joined multilateral treaties deposited with the Secretary-General.

Actions during the Treaty Event centered on the Agreement 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 (BBNJ), with 12 additional signatures, and five new ratifications.

“I am encouraged by the number of additional signatures and ratifications of the [BBNJ]. These actions during the Treaty Event have brought us closer to the entry into force of this instrument which is of crucial importance for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of large areas of the ocean and for addressing the triple planetary crises of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss”, said Mr. Stephen Mathias, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel.

The Event also featured a joint ceremony for the signing and deposit of instruments of ratification to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The ceremony was overseen by the Acting Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel, with remarks from the UN High Representative and Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, the Representatives from Kazakhstan, South Africa and Uruguay, as well as the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

The Treaty Event also showcased State participation in multilateral treaties that aim at protecting the environment, human rights, as well as those concerning international trade, transport, and cooperation on criminal matters.

Miguel de Serpa Soares leaves the Organization and Stephen Mathias is appointed Acting Legal Counsel

RNAZIRBO — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 21:38:00 +0000

After eleven years serving the United Nations as its Legal Counsel, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares has left his post, the Organization and New York. The Secretary-General has appointed Mr. Stephen Mathias Acting Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, effective 16 September 2024. Mr. Mathias will remain Assistant-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs while he is leading the Office of Legal Affairs.

The Maldives to sign the BBNJ Agreement

RNAZIRBO — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 16:28:00 +0000

On 3 September 2024, the United Nations Legal Counsel, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, officiated the signing by H.E. Mr. Ali Nasser Mohamed, the Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations, of the Agreement 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 (BBNJ Agreement).

The Maldives is the 92^nd State to sign the BBNJ Agreement which opened for signature on 20 September 2023 and will enter into force 120 days after the deposit of the sixtieth instrument of ratification, approval, acceptance or accession. The Legal Counsel congratulated the Maldives on the occasion of this treaty action emphasizing that the timely entry into force and effective implementation of Agreement can make crucial contributions to addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, as well as to achieving ocean-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Legal Counsel visits Phnom Penh, Cambodia

RNAZIRBO — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 16:28:00 +0000

From 15 to 17 July 2024, the United Nations Legal Counsel, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, visited Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia, to prepare the final stage in the existence of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), and its transition into an institution that would preserve the legacy of the work of the ECCC, and would ensure continued access to the archives of the ECCC. For that purpose, the Legal Counsel conducted meetings with our Cambodian partners in the ECCC administration, with our partners in the Cambodia Government, and with the “Group of Friends of the ECCC”, which brings together the principal donors with Cambodian Government representatives. The key meetings with the Government of Cambodia that the Legal Counsel held were the meetings with the Prime Minister of Cambodia, H.E. Mr. Hun Manet, and with the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of issues relating to the ECCC, H.E. Mr. Vongsey Vissoth.

In the margins of the mission, the Legal Counsel represented the United Nations at a “groundbreaking” ceremony for the envisaged legacy institution, which was chaired by the Prime Minister of Cambodia, and visited the newly established ECCC resource center.

Legal Counsel holds annual meeting with the International Law Commission in Geneva, Switzerland

RNAZIRBO — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 21:38:00 +0000

From 2 to 4 July 2024, the United Nations Legal Counsel, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, visited Geneva, Switzerland, for his annual meeting with the Members of the International Law Commission. In his address, the Legal Counsel informed the Members of the Commission comprehensively about developments in international law at the United Nations and the activities of his Office. In accordance with established tradition, the statement was followed by a questions and answers session with the Members of the Commission.

The Legal Counsel seized the opportunity of his presence in Geneva to meet with a number of his colleagues, including the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Filipo Grandi, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Ms. Rebeca Grynspan, to exchange views on issues of common concern.

The UN Legal Counsel bids farewell to his friend and colleague Mr. Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The Treaty Section delivers its first Regional Workshop on Treaty Law and Practice for SICA Members

RNAZIRBO — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 19:03:00 +0000

On 27 - 28 June 2024, the Treaty Section of the Office of Legal Affairs conducted for the first time a Regional Workshop on Treaty Law and Practice in San Salvador, El Salvador, for representatives of Member States of the Central American Integration System (SICA).

The Workshop was hosted by El Salvador and jointly organized by the Treaty Section and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), in coordination with the Diplomatic Institute “Doctor José Gustavo Guerrero” of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador.

33 representatives from Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama gathered for two days to actively engage on a wide range of topics covering the role and practice of the Secretary-General of the United Nations as depositary of multilateral treaties, as well as the registration and publication of treaties under Article 102 of the UN Charter. Specialized sessions from representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador and of the General Secretariat of SICA on their respective treaty practices were also featured.

The Workshop was conducted in English and Spanish, thus ensuring active discussions among attendees.

The Treaty Section organizes capacity-building workshops twice a year at UN Headquarters in New York, and at the national and regional levels upon invitation by Member States or interested organizations. It is worth noting that, in its resolutions 76/120 of 9 December 2021 and 78/236 of 22 December 2023, the General Assembly invited states and interested organizations and institutions to make voluntary contributions towards the financing of regional and national workshops on treaty law and practice.

More information regarding the Treaty Section capacity building programmes can be found on the United Nations Treaty Collection website.

The 2024 annual meeting of the Field Legal Advisers and Legal Officers

RNAZIRBO — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 19:30:00 +0000

From 12 to 14 June 2024, the Office of Legal Affairs hosted the annual meeting of the Field Legal Advisers and Field Officers at the UN Headquarters in New York.

The meeting is organized annually by the Office of Legal Affairs and provides a unique forum for Legal Advisers and Legal Officers serving in the UN’s peacekeeping operations and special political missions to discuss legal issues of common interest and to promote common approaches to legal issues.

The meeting was opened by Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel. In his remarks, the Legal Counsel highlighted the importance of continuing exchanges on the various issues and challenges that Field Legal Advisers and Legal Officers encounter in the context of the Organization’s field operations. He further expressed his appreciation to the participants of the meeting for their commitment to the goals and values of the United Nations and for their work towards ensuring the protection of the legal interests of the Organization in the challenging context of field operations.

Participants of the meeting observed a minute of silence in remembrance of Mr. Ibukunolu "IBK" Babajide, Senior Legal Adviser of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, who passed away unexpectedly in 2023. IBK was a long-serving member of the United Nations legal community, and with his passing, the network of Field Legal Advisers and Field Legal Officers lost an experienced and distinguished colleague.

At this year’s meeting, the participants discussed a wide range of topics, including issues related to the implementation of status-of-forces and status-of-mission agreements; recent developments in the area of privileges and immunities of the Organization; claims and commercial insurance matters; the UN’s internal system of administration of justice and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse-related matters; the framework related to claims for compensation for death and disability of uniformed personnel; and the work of Boards of Inquiry. The participants also discussed recent developments in the areas of data protection; use of the UN’s name and emblem; and issues related to withdrawal and liquidation of UN missions.

The Office of Legal Affairs is grateful to the Department of Operational Support and to the Department of Peace Operations for their support during this year’s meeting.

Thirty-fourth Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

RNAZIRBO — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 14:00:00 +0000

On 12 June 2024, the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, delivered a statement commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, at the thirty-fourth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention. As reaffirmed by the General Assembly, the Convention sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.

Observing that in the past three decades, the Convention had risen to its distinction as the constitution for the oceans, the Legal Counsel described the Convention as a testament to multilateralism and noted that as a framework instrument, it played an important role in the development of the law of the sea. He highlighted in this regard the recent adoption and opening for signature of the Agreement under the Convention on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, as the third implementing agreement under the Convention.

The Legal Counsel underscored the urgent need to accelerate efforts to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, as well as to ensure sustainable ocean-based economies and maintain international peace and security, including through the effective implementation of the Convention. Looking ahead to the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, he invited delegations to accelerate action and mobilize all actors towards the conservation and sustainable use of our ocean.

Legal Counsel chairs the 2024 meeting of the informal networks of the Legal Advisers in Montreal, Canada

RNAZIRBO — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 18:46:00 +0000

From 27 to 31 May 2024, the Legal Counsel of the United Nations, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares visited Montreal, Canada, to chair the annual meetings of the informal network of the Legal Advisers of the specialized agencies and the related and other organizations of the United Nations System, and the informal network of the Legal Advisers of the United Nations Offices, Funds and Programmes.

The meetings were hosted by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), through its Director of Legal Affairs and External Relations Bureau, Mr. Michael Gill. The purpose of the network meetings is to provide a forum for discussion of legal issues of common interest and concern to the Legal Advisers of the participating entities, to improve coordination and communication among the Legal Advisers and to promote system-wide legal coherence. Topics on this year’s agenda ranged from the issue of conditionality clauses in funding agreements, innovative and alternative funding mechanisms, and data protection, to updates on legal aspects of the situations in Ukraine and Gaza, and an overview of United Nations Appeals Tribunal judgements. Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar, Secretary-General of ICAO, addressed the joint session of the two networks.

Ratification of the Agreement 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(BBNJ) by the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)

RNAZIRBO — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 15:50:00 +0000

On 3 June 2024, the United Nations Legal Counsel, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, received from Mr. Jeem Lippwe, the Permanent Representative of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) to the United Nations, FSM’s instrument of ratification of the Agreement 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 (BBNJ Agreement).

FSM is the seventh State to ratify the BBNJ Agreement which opened for signature on 20 September 2023 and will enter into force 120 days after the deposit of the sixtieth instrument of ratification, approval, acceptance or accession. The Legal Counsel congratulated FSM for its rapid action to ratify the BBNJ Agreement, emphasizing that the timely entry into force and effective implementation of Agreement can make crucial contributions to addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, as well as to achieving ocean-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

UN-Oceans at SIDS4: Ocean action to support resilient prosperity in small island developing States

RNAZIRBO — Wed, 29 May 2024 15:40:00 +0000

On 29 May 2024, UN-Oceans, an inter-agency mechanism for cooperation and coordination on ocean and coastal issues for which the UN Legal Counsel serves as Focal Point, held a side event at the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) in Antigua and Barbuda, on the theme “Ocean action to support resilient prosperity in SIDS”.

With reference to the draft outcome of the SIDS4 Conference on the value of the United Nations system in supporting SIDS, the Legal Counsel in his opening remarks, noted the importance of the work of UN-Oceans members through cooperation and coordination, to leverage collective expertise and resources towards ensuring that SIDS not only survive but thrive in the face of global challenges, paving the way for a sustainable and prosperous future.

The event benefited from the participation, including at the high level, of eleven members of
UN-Oceans, namely CBD, FAO, IAEA, ISA, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO-IOC, UN/OLA/DOALOS, WMO and the World Bank. With attendance at standing room only, this event showcased the contributions made by UN-Oceans members to assist SIDS in meeting capacity needs, capitalize on synergies and achieve shared goals of building resilience, prosperity and sustainable development.

More information about UN-Oceans, including this side event, is available at: /Depts/los/coop_coor/home_en.htm

2024 United Nations Regional Course in International Law for Latin America and the Caribbean

RNAZIRBO — Mon, 27 May 2024 21:36:00 +0000

On 27 May 2024, the Office of Legal Affairs welcomed 19 participants from 16 countries to the 2024 United Nations Regional Course in International Law for Latin America and the Caribbean. The Regional Course for Latin America and the Caribbean, which is held at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, is organized in cooperation with the Republic of Chile and ECLAC. The Regional Courses in International Law are conducted under the mandate of the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law.

For additional information on the Regional Courses in International Law and other training opportunities in international law offered by the Office of Legal Affairs, please visit the website of the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law.

UN Legal Counsel delivers opening remarks at the Panel co-hosted by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations in New York and Team Malizia

RNAZIRBO — Fri, 24 May 2024 13:05:00 +0000

On 23 May 2024, at the German House in New York, the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, delivered opening remarks [hyperlink] at a panel entitled “Preserving our High Seas: A Call to Action for Ocean Protection”. The panel was co-hosted by the German Federal Ministry for the environment, the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations in New York and Team Malizia (2024 Vendée Globe competitors).

In his opening remarks, the Legal Counsel emphasized that preserving our ocean is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, a challenge the sailing community is experiencing directly, as it is the first witness to the vastness, power and fragility of the ocean. In this regard, he highlighted several significant issues facing the ocean, including large-scale pollution and overfishing. However, the Legal Counsel also expressed hope and stressed the progress being made. The international community has recognized the urgency to protect the ocean and its biodiversity as evidenced by a number of initiatives and achievements. Amongst these, he mentioned the historic adoption of the BBNJ Agreement, the annual celebration of United Nations World Oceans Day and the forthcoming High-level Event on Ocean Action entitled “Immersed in Change”, organized by Costa Rica, in June 2024 as tangible examples of the global commitment to raise awareness and prompt for action. The Legal Counsel concluded by stating that events like this panel are part of this necessary mobilization in favor of the ocean.

UN Legal Counsel delivers opening remarks at the panel organized by the Permanent Mission of Philippines, The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Asian African Legal Consultative Organization

RNAZIRBO — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 21:11:00 +0000

On 17 April 2024, the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, made several brief opening remarks at a panel entitled “20 Years After the Tsunami: Revisiting the International Law Commission’s Draft Articles on the Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters”. The panel was organized by the Permanent Mission of the Philippines, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Asian African Legal Consultative Organization, with a view to providing delegations in New York with contextual information relating to the recommendation of the International Law Commission that a treaty be concluded on the basis of the draft articles, and which will be the subject of consideration by the Sixth Committee at the seventy-ninth session of the General Assembly, in October 2024.

The Legal Counsel recalled that the provision and coordination of humanitarian assistance to persons affected by such disasters continued to be a major component of the work of the United Nations. He observed that it was somewhat less appreciated that the serious disruption of the functioning of society caused by major disasters also had a legal dimension. Disasters place great strain on national legal systems – sometimes to the breaking point. At the same time, it was important to understand that law could also be part of the solution. In modern societies, the response of the state to a major crisis, including that triggered by the onset of a disaster, was usually undertaken on the basis of existing law and legal authority, as well as through institutions established by national legislation. In many important ways, legal preparedness, in the sense of putting into place the necessary laws, regulations and institutions to provide a robust and adequate response to the onset of a major disaster, was itself an important component of risk reduction. He observed further that the work being undertaken by the Sixth Committee on the draft treaty was an example of a growing interest among international lawyers in developing a body of rules regulating the provision of humanitarian assistance following the onset of disasters outside of the context of armed conflict – an international humanitarian law for disasters.

UN Legal Counsel delivers an adress to diplomats and practitioners at the 41st Annual International Humanitarian Law Seminar

RNAZIRBO — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:24:00 +0000

On 20 March 2024, the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, delivered a speech at the 41^st Annual International Humanitarian Law Seminar organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the New York University. 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.

On a year which marks the 75^th anniversary of the 1949 Geneve Conventions and the 160^th anniversary of the 1864 Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded in Armies in the Field, the Legal Counsel recalled the critical importance of the full implementation of international humanitarian law instruments and of the philosophy at their core.

The Legal Counsel then addressed one of the questions related to the intersections between the legal framework that is specifically applicable to the United Nations and the law of armed conflict itself. Recalling that the inviolability of United Nations’ premises is one of the key privileges, immunities and facilities afforded by Member States to the Organization to facilitate the implementation of its mandate, he analyzed the scope of inviolability of United Nations premises in times of armed conflict. Drawing from the practice of States in relation to the inviolability of their diplomatic premises and from the extensive practice of both the United Nations in general and the Office of Legal Affairs in particular he highlighted that inviolability of United Nations premises applies both at war and at peace and that, notwithstanding some extreme and complex cases, international humanitarian law does not displace inviolability.

UN Legal Counsel, Mr. Serpa Soares, visit to the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Medford, MA

RNAZIRBO — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 17:05:00 +0000

On 14 March 2024, the UN Legal Counsel, Mr. Serpa Soares, visited the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Medford, MA, at the invitation of Professor Photini Pazartzis. Mr. Serpa Soares engaged in a conversation with students on a number of topical issues of international law currently on the agenda of the United Nations. Mr. Serpa Soares is grateful to Dean Kelly Gallagher for hosting an interesting exchange with members of the faculty which preceded the meeting with the students.

UN Legal Counsel delivers opening remarks to the African Union side-event on the margins of the OEWG on security and use of ICT

RNAZIRBO — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 22:38:00 +0000

UNITED NATIONS LEGAL COUNSEL DELIVERS OPENING REMARKS TO THE AFRICAN UNION Side-Event on the Margins of the Open-Ended Working Group on Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies

On 4 March 2024, the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, delivered opening remarks to a side-event organized by the African Union Commission on International Law and the African Union Peace & Security Council on the margins of the Open-Ended Working Group on Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies to mark the adoption of the Common African Position on the application of international law to the use of information & communication technologies in cyberspace.

The Legal Counsel saluted the efforts deployed by the African Union and welcomed the adoption of a Common African Position which explicitly and unequivocally reaffirms that international law applies in cyberspace and governs the use of ICTs in cyberspace.

Recalling the complex and multifaceted intergovernmental processes currently hosted by the United Nations in relation to cyberspace and information and communications technologies, the Legal Counsel highlighted the success of multilateralism that the adoption by the 55 member states of the African Union of a common position on such a complex and polarizing topic represents.

Signature by Canada of the BBNJ Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

RNAZIRBO — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 23:30:00 +0000

On 4 March 2024, the United Nations Legal Counsel received Canada’s Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, The Honorable Diane Lebouthillier, to officiate the signature by Canada of the Agreement 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 (BBNJ Agreement).

This is the 88^th signature of the BBNJ Agreement since it opened for signature on 20 September 2023, and two countries ratified it already. The Legal Counsel congratulated Canada on behalf of the Secretary-General and expressed his utmost confidence that the BBNJ Agreement holds the potential to make significant contributions to addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, as well as achieving ocean-related objectives and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

2024 United Nations Regional Course in International Law for Africa

RNAZIRBO — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 21:15:00 +0000

On 22 February 2024, the Office of Legal Affairs welcomed 24 participants from 17 countries to the 2024 United Nations Regional Course in International Law for Africa. The Regional Course for Africa, which is held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, is organized in cooperation with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. The Regional Courses in International Law are conducted under the mandate of the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law. Mr. Markus Pallek, Secretary of the Advisory Committee on the Programme of Assistance delivered opening remarks.

l'atelier sous-régional de droit international des Nations Unies pour les pays francophones d'Afrique de l'Est et de l'océan Indien

RNAZIRBO — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 23:15:00 +0000

Le Bureau des Affaires Juridiques a récemment organisé l'atelier sous-régional de droit international des Nations Unies pour les pays francophones d'Afrique de l'Est et de l'océan Indien, le deuxième événement de ce type dans le cadre de l'assistance technique fournie aux États membres de l'Organisation. Celui-ci s'est tenu du 13 au 15 février 2024 à Djibouti (Djibouti). Cette initiative, bénéficiant de la coopération de Djibouti en tant que pays hôte et du soutien financier de la France, était destinée aux fonctionnaires des ministères des affaires étrangères et autres ministères concernés de ces pays.

Pendant trois jours, les participantes et participants ont eu l'opportunité de se familiariser avec le travail juridique des Nations Unies ainsi que des services fournis par le Bureau des Affaires Juridiques. Ils ont notamment pu échanger avec les fonctionnaires du Bureau sur divers sujets tels que les privilèges et immunités des Nations Unies, la coopération avec le Bureau en matière de bonne administration de la justice, de codification du droit international, des récents développements en droit commercial international et en droit de la mer, notamment les questions liées à la piraterie et à la conservation et l'utilisation durable de la diversité biologique marine des zones ne relevant pas de la juridiction nationale.

Lors de la séance d'ouverture, à laquelle a assisté SEM Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Ministre des affaires étrangères de Djibouti, le Conseiller juridique des Nations Unies a souligné l'importance des efforts déployés par le Bureau dans la promotion et la diffusion du droit international, et ce afin de renforcer la paix et la sécurité internationales, en coopération avec les pays de la région.

Legal Counsel represents Secretary-General at a conference on Justice, Future Generations and the Environment in Paris

RNAZIRBO — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 19:07:00 +0000

On 7 February 2024, the United Nations Legal Counsel, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, represented the Secretary-General at an international conference on justice, future generations and the environment in Paris, France. The conference was convened by the President of the French Constitutional Council, Mr. Laurent Fabius, and brought together Presidents and Judges of Supreme, High and Constitutional Courts around the world to discuss the concept of “future generations” and how their rights and interest, particularly when it comes to the environment, are protected in different jurisdictions and legal orders. The conclusions of the conference will inform the Summit of the Future which will be held in September 2024 at United Nations Headquarters New York at the level of Heads of State and Government. Mr. Serpa Soares delivered opening remarks alongside of President Fabius.

Palau Deposits First Instrument of Ratification of the BBNJ Agreement

RNAZIRBO — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 23:01:00 +0000

On 22 January 2024, the United Nations Legal Counsel, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, received from Ms. Ilana Seid, the Permanent Representative of Palau to the United Nations, Palau’s instrument of ratification of the Agreement 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 (BBNJ Agreement).

Palau is the first State to ratify the BBNJ Agreement which opened for signature on 20 September 2023 and will enter into force 120 days after the deposit of the sixtieth instrument of ratification, approval, acceptance or accession. The Legal Counsel congratulated Palau for leading the way and expressed his hope that they will inspire others to do the same as soon as possible.

The BBNJ Agreement is the first comprehensive, cross-sectoral ocean treaty since the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea was adopted more than 40 years ago and has the potential to make crucial contributions to addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, as well as to achieving ocean-related goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.