STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR BURHAN GAFOOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 74, ON THE REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE, GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 3 NOVEMBER 2020

Mr President,

1 I would like to thank the President of the International Court of Justice, His Excellency Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, for his comprehensive presentation on the activities of the Court during the period under review.

2 The Court is busier than ever as its seventy-fifth anniversary draws near. Its docket covers diverse areas of public international law, and involves parties from all over the world, including eight from our region.  In short, interest in the Court is at an all-time high.  We welcome the participation of the President of the Court at the high-level meeting to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and fully endorse his comment that “[a]n international rule of law cannot … exist without a judicial body to which disputes can be referred and by which they may be resolved”, and “[t]he quality of the work of the Court has … enabled it to acquire a growing confidence among States to entrust to it the resolution of their disputes”.

3 Turning to the Report of the Court, Singapore has three points to make. First, Singapore is honoured to be part of the cross-regional group of five States that will submit a draft resolution for the establishment of a trust fund for the Court’s Judicial Fellows Programme for the consideration of the General Assembly this session.  Singapore attaches great importance to the Judicial Fellows Programme because it allows young legal practitioners to learn about the Court by working directly with those who know the Court best.  This can only serve to advance the international rule of law.  We therefore join the Court in underscoring the need to promote greater diversity in the Judicial Fellows Programme—in particular, by promoting access to the programme by nationals of developing countries, from universities in developing countries.  We hope that the draft resolution establishing the trust fund will receive the support of all Member States.

4 Second, we note the latest developments concerning the presence of asbestos in the Court’s physical premises.  We look forward to receiving further information about the Court's relocation in due course, including the date, venue, and duration of such relocation.  We trust that the Court’s temporary premises will be sufficiently equipped for the Court to continue to carry out its judicial function, in the “efficient and seamless manner” to which we have all now become accustomed.

5 This brings me to my final point. Singapore was deeply encouraged by the Court’s rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the amendments to its Rules of Procedure, and the use of videoconferencing to hold meetings and convene public hearings.  We appreciate the Court’s effort to harness technology to discharge its judicial function.  We also commend the tireless work of the Court’s staff to facilitate the Court’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

6 Mr President, the rules-based multilateral system and international law are key to devising effective solutions for the myriad of challenges that will arise as the world seeks to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and to address other existential threats like climate change.  This is why Singapore has been, and continues to be, a staunch supporter and defender of the United Nations and its principal judicial organ, the International Court of Justice.

7 Thank you. 

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