News from Bureau des affaires juridiques

The Office of Legal Affairs Supports the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference

RNAZIRBO — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 10:14:00 +0000

The Office of Legal Affairs (OLA), through its respective units, actively contributed to the high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and Sustainably Use the Oceans, Seas and Marine Resources for Sustainable Development (2025 United Nations Ocean Conference), convened by General Assembly resolution 78/128, and held in Nice, France, from 9 to 13 June 2025.

Led by the United Nations Legal Counsel—who was also appointed by the Secretary-General as Special Adviser to the Presidents of the Conference on oceans and legal matters—OLA played an active role across several key initiatives during the week.

First, the Legal Counsel officiated on behalf of the Secretary-General at a Special Treaty Event allowing States to join 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). During this event convened by the Treaty Section, 34 States from all regions undertook treaty actions under the BBNJ Agreement, including 18 signatures and 18 ratifications. Two additional signatures and one further ratification followed during the conference, bringing the total number of ratifications to 51 (including 50 States and the European Union). This marked a significant advance toward the Agreement’s entry into force.

Ahead of the Conference and throughout the week, the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) provided substantive support to the Division for Economic and Social Affairs in its role as secretariat of the Conference, as well as supported and delivered several events as part of its mandate to mark the observance of World Oceans Day, including the parade of boats on 8 June. The Conference comprised ten plenary sessions and ten Ocean Action Panels, including Ocean Action Panel 10, entitled “Enhancing the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in the UNCLOS”. DOALOS served as the lead entity for this Panel, during which the United Nations Legal Counsel delivered introductory remarks. In addition, DOALOS engaged in various side events that were held in connection with the Conference, either inside the Conference venue (Blue Zone), or off-site, at the Green Zone, and other venues across Nice, reflecting the breadth of its mandate.

In particular, DOALOS successfully organized, in cooperation with other partners, the following side events:

The BBNJ Agreement as a catalyst for action to achieve SDG14: Looking ahead to opportunities and challenges for effective implementation.
UN-Oceans as a mechanism to mobilize multilateral ocean action and amplify collective impacts toward the implementation of SDG14.
Strengthening the science-policy interface through the Regular Process and its World Ocean Assessments to support the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030).

DOALOS also contributed to a number of side events organized by other entities, including on the following issues:

Securing our future: Small Island Developing States and Sea Level Rise
Integrated Solutions for Sustainable Ocean Economies: Tough questions answered!
Enhancing global fisheries frameworks to ensure food security
Elevating gender equity and the role of women in ocean affairs

Furthermore, DOALOS organized a meeting with Alumni of the United Nations - Nippon Foundation fellowship programme, who participated in the Conference. During that meeting, the Alumni had the opportunity to meet with the Executive Director of The Nippon Foundation and engage in a meaningful exchange on the impact of capacity-building in their professional journeys.

The Office of the Legal Counsel provided substantive support to the Credentials Committee of the Conference and a provided legal advice to Secretariat entities.

The Legal Counsel also delivered the closing remarks at the tenth and final plenary session of the Conference.

The Office of Legal Affairs expresses its sincere appreciation to all delegations, youth advocates, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, academics, scientists, industry representatives, civil society partners, and members of the UN system for their vital contributions. Their collective commitment continues to shape a more inclusive and representative model of ocean governance and a reinvigorated spirit of multilateralism.

2025 Meeting of the Networks of Legal Advisers

OLAIMU — Sat, 24 May 2025 13:30:00 +0000

From 20 to 22 May 2025, the Legal Counsel of the United Nations, Ms. Elinor Hammarskjöld chaired 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 held at United Nations Headquarters in New York this year. For the first time in the history of these meetings, some sessions were open to virtual participation by Legal Advisers who could not travel.

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. The meetings also provide the Legal Counsel with an important opportunity to brief the members of the networks on current legal issues facing the Organization.

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

OLAIMU — Fri, 23 May 2025 13:09:00 +0000

On 20-22 May 2025, the Treaty Section of the Office of Legal Affairs conducted a Regional Workshop on Treaty Law and Practice, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the support and collaboration of the Government of Ethiopia, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union. This capacity-building event was the first of such workshops to be organized for representatives of Member States of the African Group in over 10 years.

The Workshop brought together 25 participants from Botswana, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, for two and a half days of discussions and exchanges on various aspects of treaty law and practice. 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 Office of the Legal Counsel of the African Union Commission, who provided insights on the treaty-making process at the African Union and on the depositary practice of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

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.

Statement at the 76th session of the International Law Commission – 29 April 2025

RNAZIRBO — Mon, 05 May 2025 13:59:00 +0000

On 29 April 2025, the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, Ms. Elinor Hammarskjöld, delivered a statement at the 76th session of the International Law Commission in Geneva.

The Legal Counsel provided members of the Commission with an overview of the activities over the past year of the Office of Legal Affairs, which is the central legal service of the Organization. The Legal Counsel commended the Commission for its unwavering dedication to advancing the progressive development of international law and its codification, which remains an essential cornerstone in the maintenance of international peace, security, and justice.

The Legal Counsel also reaffirmed the steadfast commitment of the Office of Legal Affairs to the Commission and to continue to serve it with the highest standards of diligence, professionalism and dedication.

For more information about the International Law Commission, please visit: https://legal.un.org/ilc/

United Nations Legal Counsel appears before the International Court of Justice

OLAIMU — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 15:43:00 +0000

United Nations Legal Counsel appears before the International Court of Justice to participate in the advisory proceedings on the presence and activities of the United Nations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

On Monday, 28 April 2025, the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, Ms. Elinor Hammarskjöld, appeared before the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, to deliver a statement on behalf of the Secretary-General in the oral hearings of the advisory proceedings concerning the Obligations of Israel in relation to the Presence and Activities of the United Nations, Other International Organizations and Third States in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

On 19 December 2024, the General Assembly requested the Court to urgently render an advisory opinion on what obligations are owed by Israel, as an occupying Power and as a member of the United Nations, “in relation to the presence and activities of the United Nations, including its agencies and bodies, other international organizations and third States, in and in relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including to ensure and facilitate the unhindered provision of urgently needed supplies essential to the survival of the Palestinian civilian population as well as of basic services and humanitarian and development assistance, for the benefit of the Palestinian civilian population, and in support of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination” (General Assembly resolution 79/232).

On 27 February 2025, the Legal Counsel had also submitted a written statement in these proceedings on behalf of the Secretary-General, which has now been made available on the Court’s website in both English and French.

In her oral statement, the Legal Counsel highlighted the key legal points raised in the written submission and further elaborated on some of them. She focused on the salient features of Israel’s obligations as an occupying Power and as a Member of the United Nations, considering the question submitted by the General Assembly. She emphasised the need for humanitarian access, the protection of humanitarian, medical and United Nations personnel, and the absolute inviolability of United Nations premises, property and assets at all times. In addition, the statement sought to address the arguments put forward by certain States in their written submissions, which are all available here. The Legal Counsel also recalled the obligation of all actors to comply with international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, at all times. She also recalled the Organization’s position concerning the abhorrent acts of terror perpetrated by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on 7 October 2023, and the need for an immediate and unconditional release of all remaining hostages.

The oral statement by the Legal Counsel is available on the Court’s website at this link (from p. 43 onwards).

In addition to the United Nations, thirty-nine States — namely Algeria, Belgium, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, the Comoros, Egypt, France, Hungary, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Namibia, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, the State of Palestine, the Sudan, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and Vanuatu — as well as three other international organizations — the African Union, the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation — delivered oral statements during the hearings that took place from 28 April to 3 May 2025. The statements are all available at this link.

2025 United Nations Regional Course in International Law for Latin America and the Caribbean

OLAIMU — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 16:14:00 +0000

On 23 April 2025, the Office of Legal Affairs welcomed 27 participants from 19 countries to the 2025 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. The opening ceremony of the Regional Course was held in hybrid format, with Ms. Elinor Hammarskjöld, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, delivering remarks remotely from UN Headquarters in New York.

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 keynote remarks at 119th Annual Meeting of the American Society of International Law

OLAIMU — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 20:02:00 +0000

On 17 April 2025, the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, Ms. Elinor Hammarskjöld, delivered remarks as the Assembly keynote speaker at the 119th Annual Meeting of the American Society of International Law, in Washington, D.C.

The Legal Counsel addressed the topic of “challenges and possibilities in current international law from the point of view of the United Nations Legal Counsel”. The Legal Counsel noted that international law is facing daunting challenges and emphasized the need to respect international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, in current conflicts. Nevertheless, the Legal Counsel expressed that the possibilities of international law outweigh those threats, as demonstrated by increasing recourse to the International Court of Justice, by the adoption of the BBNJ Agreement in June 2023, and by ongoing processes arising out of work of the International Law Commission.

Opening of the first session of the BBNJ Preparatory Commission

RNAZIRBO — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 15:50:00 +0000

On 14 April 2025, Ms. Elinor Hammarskjöld, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, attended the opening of the first session of the Preparatory Commission, established under General Assembly resolution 78/272, to prepare for the entry into force 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”) and the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement.

In her remarks, the Legal Counsel highlighted the importance of the meeting as a reflection of the collective commitment to multilateralism at a time when the health, productivity and resilience of the ocean face unprecedented pressures. She noted that the Agreement marked a historic achievement and a triumph of multilateralism, and encouraged delegations to carry that achievement forward in the same spirit of compromise and flexibility that made the Agreement possible.

The Legal Counsel also reaffirmed the commitment of the Office of Legal Affairs, through the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, in supporting States in their efforts towards becoming parties to the Agreement and in supporting the Preparatory Commission in fulfilling its mandate.

UN Legal Counsel addresses diplomats and practitioners at the 42nd Annual International Humanitarian Law Seminar

RNAZIRBO — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 15:50:00 +0000

On 26 March 2026, the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, Ms. Elinor Hammarskjöld, delivered a statement at the 42^nd Annual International Humanitarian Law Seminar jointly organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross and New York University’s School of Law. In doing so, the Legal Counsel continued an established tradition of the Legal Counsel of the United Nations addressing the seminar at its opening. The purpose of the seminar is to inform 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.

Meeting with legal advisers from the Latin American and Caribbean region

RNAZIRBO — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 13:56:00 +0000

On March 7, Ms. Elinor Hammarskjöld, Under-Secretary-General and Legal Counsel, met with legal advisers from the Latin American and Caribbean region at an event organized by the Missions of Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico.

The legal advisers extended a welcome to Ms. Hammarskjöld and shared their priorities. Ms. Hammarskjöld recognized the region’s active role and tradition in international law and reaffirmed OLA’s readiness to support Member States in in the legal issues within its mandate.

Workshop on Artificial Intelligence and International Humanitarian Law

RNAZIRBO — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 14:10:00 +0000

On 28 February 2025, Ms. Elinor Hammarskjöld, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, participated in the Workshop on Artificial Intelligence and International Humanitarian Law held at the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations (Chair of the African Group for the month of February).

In her remarks, she underscored the vital role of international humanitarian law in addressing the challenges posed by AI in armed conflict. She encouraged the legal advisers, diplomats, and other experts participating to exchange perspectives on the evolving role of AI in modern warfare and its implications for the international law.

Opening of the plenary part of the sixty-third session of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf

RNAZIRBO — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 13:56:00 +0000

On 24 February 2025, the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel, Ms. Elinor Hammarskjöld, attended, for the first time, the opening of the plenary part of the sixty-third session of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

In her remarks, she highlighted the crucial contribution made by the Commission to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas are carried out, and paid tribute to the significant work carried out by the Members of the Commission in this regard.

She also officiated the solemn declaration by a newly elected Member of the Commission, Mr. Ahmed Er Raji.

Secretary-General appoints Ms. Elinor Hammarskjöld of Sweden to lead the Office of Legal Affairs

RNAZIRBO — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 17:09:00 +0000

On 23 December 2024, the Secretary-General appointed Ms. Elinor Hammarskjöld of Sweden Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel. The United Nations Secretariat and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden issued press releases on this occasion.

Ms. Hammarskjöld has more than 30 years of experience working in foreign and security policy, public international law and human rights. She is currently the Director-General for Legal Affairs and Head of the Directorate-General for Legal Affairs at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, and previously served as Director-General for Political Affairs.

Ms. Hammarskjöld is expected to assume her functions in early February. The staff of the Office of Legal Affairs looks forward to the arrival of its new Head.

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.

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.