Philippines Leads Recognition of the 100th Anniversary of The Hague Academy of International Law at UN

Ambassador and Permanent Representative Antonio M. Lagdameo opens the side event entitled of The Hague Academy of International Law “Peaceful Dispute Settlement: The Indispensable Courts and Courses of the Peace Palace”. He is joined by (L-R), Mr. Philippe Gautier of the International Court of Justice, Professor Jean-Marc Thouvenin of The Hague Academy of International Law, and Mr. Marcin Czepelak of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. (New York PM photo)

NEW YORK 31 October 2023 – The Philippines was the main co-sponsor of the Side Event of The Hague Academy of International Law “Peaceful Dispute Settlement: The Indispensable Courts and Courses of the Peace Palace” which celebrates the centenary of the Academy at the sidelines of the United Nations International Law Week, the highlight of the annual session of the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly.

Several other states also co-sponsored the centenary event: Andorra, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Greece, Guatemala, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Mongolia, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Togo, Ukraine, the United States of America, and Vietnam.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative Antonio M. Lagdameo opened the side event.

“The reach of the Academy is truly global – and its impact on the rule of law, consequential. It stands firm at the nexus of a vast network of professionals whose efforts shape and reshape international law,” Ambassador Lagdameo said in his opening remarks.

He noted that the Philippines underscored the critical role of the Academy at bolstering the United Nations’ International Law Fellowship Programme in The Hague. “This initiative has been pivotal in enhancing national capacities in international law, particularly for developing states.”

“As we celebrate the Academy’s centenary, we duly recognize its indispensable and unique role in imparting knowledge through the courses at the Peace Palace. The Academy remains an irreplaceable pillar, cultivating understanding and advancing international law throughout the years,” he further stated.

Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya, Philippine Ambassador to The Netherlands and Acting President of the Administrative Council of the Permanent Court of Arbitration also delivered remarks, highlighting that in partnership with the Philippine Judicial Academy, a special two-week program of the Academy will be conducted in the Philippines in February 2023, the first “full program” to be conducted by the Academy outside The Hague.

Professor Jean-Marc Thouvenin, Secretary-General of The Hague Academy of International Law, introduced the event as well as the speakers: Mr. Philippe Gautier, the Registrar of the International Court of Justice and Mr. Marcin Czepelak, the Secretary General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Prof. Thouvenin also delivered remarks on the indispensable courses of the Academy.

Since 1923, The Hague Academy of International Law has been contributing to the promotion of peace through law. The Academy organizes a six-week session of Summer Courses annually at the Peace Palace, where it has its seat, in the vicinity of the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The Summer courses welcome more than 650 attendees from over the world and attract renowned academics, diplomats and practitioners from various institutions in the world. The Academy is a dynamic institution, with its one century of experience and constantly evolving to adapt to the needs of the time with respect to the dissemination of knowledge of international law and its teaching, both in theory and in practice.

The side event of The Hague Academy is available on webcast via this website: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1x/k1xbctwvcc. END

For more information, visit https://www.newyorkpm.dfa.gov.ph, https://www.un.int/philippines or https://www.facebook.com/PHMissionNY/.