GOVPH

: Published: 26 November 2024

Public International Law and Southeast Asia Highlighted at a Conference in The Hague

Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya

THE HAGUE 26 November 2024 – The strong linkages between international law and Southeast Asia, including the region’s increasing confidence in third-party dispute settlement institutions like the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), were highlighted by Ambassador J. Eduardo Malaya during his presentation at the Opening Ceremony of the “2024 Conference on International Law and Southeast Asia’ at The Hague University of Applied Sciences on 21 November.

Speaking as panelist at the session “The Permanent Court of Arbitration at 125 – The PCA and Southeast Asia,” Ambassador Malaya, acting President of the PCA Administrative Council for term 2023-2024, also underscored the PCA’s recent milestones, notably the adoption in August 2023 of the U.N. General Assembly Resolution 77/322 where the UN cited the ‘important contribution of the PCA to peaceful settlement of disputes,’ and the conduct of the Congress of the Members of the Court last June, which was only the third Congress held in the international organization’s 125-year history.

PCA Secretary General Marcin Czepelak and Thai Ambassador to the Netherlands Asi Mamanee also spoke at the session.

Professor Raul Pangalangan, former Judge of the International Criminal Court and keynote speaker at the opening ceremony, cited the conference to be ‘the first forum on public international law in Southeast Asia,” which he described as “pathbreaking.”

University Vice President Arend Hardorff and Education Manager David Nederlof also spoke at the opening ceremony, while Dr. Artemis Malliaropoulou moderated the panel discussions. Dr. Michail Vagias was the master of ceremonies.

Legal experts from the Philippines, Indonesia and other countries were in attendance at the 2-day conference. The Filipinos who spoke at the conference’s various panels the following day were Prof. Rommel Casis, Prof. Jacqueline Joyce F. Espenilla, RTC Judge Cynthia Martinez Florendo, Dean Leslie N. Taruc-Orencia, Atty. Mark Anthony Manuel, Atty. Chad Patrick Osorio, and Atty. John Patrick Coloma.

Attended by some 150 law practitioners, members of the academe and students, the Conference examined the engagements of Southeast Asian nations with international law as the region continues to flourish and foster progress in a broad range of areas.

The opening ceremony can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/live/K9UCOwvJ0O4. END