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New York UN

STATEMENT BY MR NATHANIEL KHNG, COUNSELLOR (LEGAL), PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, TO INTRODUCE, ON BEHALF OF ARGENTINA, THE NETHERLANDS, ROMANIA, SENEGAL AND SINGAPORE, DRAFT RESOLUTION A/75/L.48, UNDER AGENDA ITEM 74 ON THE REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE, 14 DECEMBER 2020

14 December 2020

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1 I have the honour of introducing draft resolution A/75/L.48, entitled “Trust fund for the Judicial Fellowship Programme of the International Court of Justice”, on behalf of Argentina, the Netherlands, Romania, Senegal and Singapore.


2 The Judicial Fellowship Programme of the International Court of Justice is an initiative of the Court that enables universities to nominate their recent law graduates with a special interest in international law to pursue their training in a professional context at the Court for a period of nine months.  Since its establishment in 1999, the Programme has provided 193 law graduates with the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and understanding of international law and its practice under the supervision of members of the Court.


3 The success of the Programme is unquestionable.  However, as universities are responsible for providing the necessary financial resources to their candidates during the period of their fellowship, only universities with sufficient financial resources have been able to participate in the Programme.  To enable less-endowed universities based in developing countries to nominate their law graduates and thereby promote diversity in the Programme, the President of the Court proposed that a trust fund be created for the Programme.  This draft resolution seeks to establish this trust fund.


4 The draft resolution contains seven preambular paragraphs and five operative paragraphs.  Annexed to it are the draft terms of reference for the trust fund. Of note, the operative paragraphs of the resolution request the Secretary-General to establish and administer a trust fund for the Programme in accordance with the annexed terms of reference, decides that the resources of the trust fund be utilized for fellowship awards for eligible nationals of developing countries nominated by universities based in developing countries, and calls for voluntary financial contributions to be made promptly and generously to the trust fund.


5 On behalf of Argentina, the Netherlands, Romania, Senegal and Singapore, I would like to sincerely thank delegations for their strong support and flexibility during negotiations on the draft resolution.  We would also like to thank Mr Philippe Gautier, the Registrar of the International Court of Justice, and his team from the Registry of the Court, for their support and contributions.


6 To conclude, I wish to state that it is our hope that the General Assembly will adopt this draft resolution without a vote.


7 Thank you.


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