STATEMENT BY MRS. NATALIE Y. MORRIS-SHARMA, COUNSELLOR (LEGAL), PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 77, ON THE UNITED NATIONS PROGRAMME OF ASSISTANCE IN THE TEACHING, STUDY, DISSEMINATION AND WIDER APPRECIATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, SIXTH COMMITTEE, 17 OCTOBER 2016

1.       Mr. Chairman, Singapore associates itself with the statement of Cambodia on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and of Thailand on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. 

2.       Last year we marked the 50^th anniversary of the Programme of Assistance.  This year we embark on the Programme’s next semicentennial.  We are pleased to be able to do this on the foundation of last year’s achievements in particular.  Last year, the proposed budget – including resources necessary for the three Regional Courses to be held each year and for the continuation of the Audiovisual Library – was approved.  As a result of the budgetary approval, we can already observe the welcome predictability in the delivery of a number of the activities of the Programme of Assistance, including the Regional Courses in International Law.  We look forward to the funding from the regular budget promoting longer term sustainability of the various elements of the Programme of Assistance.

3.       The Regional Courses in International Law constitute one of a number of valued activities to promote international law that the Programme of Assistance has sustained, over a number of years.  The Regional Courses for the Asia-Pacific and for Latin America and the Caribbean unfortunately had to be cancelled in 2014 and 2015 owing to a lack of funding.  This year, my delegation is excited about the prospect of being able to have one of our officers attend the Regional Course in International Law for the Asia-Pacific, which will be held in Thailand. 

4.       In addition to the Regional Courses in International Law, my delegation is appreciative of the other efforts undertaken to implement the Programme of Assistance in 2016, including the International Law Fellowship Programme, Audiovisual Library of International Law, and preparation of international law training materials.  These are all, in their own ways and in different ways, useful tools for the dissemination of information on international law.  They facilitate the teaching of international law to successive generations of those who may be interested.  Further, they each showcase value in the use of technology to facilitate the objectives of the Programme, such as by better enabling the Secretariat’s work, and by enabling material to be made available online and in the form of podcasts. 

5.       My delegation would also like to commend the Secretariat’s efforts in the preparation of the International Law Handbook on the collection of legal materials for the Programme’s training courses and for distribution to academic institutions and government training centres in developing countries.  We welcome the fact that the Handbook will not be a sales publication or an official document, and will be made available online free of charge.  Further, we welcome the Secretariat’s exploration of the possibility of cooperating with universities in the preparation of the different language versions of the Handbook.  My delegation sees this as being in line with the desire we had expressed last year, for international and regional organisations, universities and institutions to give further support to the Programme of Assistance, and for the Secretariat to specify the areas of assistance in implementation where such entities could voluntarily contribute.  We hope that the Secretariat will continue to identify areas of assistance in the implementation of the Programme that relevant organisations, universities and institutions could voluntarily contribute to, particularly in respect of contributions in kind. 

6.       Mr. Chairman, my delegation is grateful for the opportunity to serve as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Programme of Assistance.  Our term commenced in January this year.  Singapore attaches great importance to the promotion of international law.  The development of international law expertise is one of Singapore’s national priorities.  We are therefore enthusiastic about being able to contribute to the teaching, study, dissemination and wider appreciation of international law, not just within our shores, but also globally.

7.       My delegation thanks the Secretary-General for his report on this agenda item, and for the tireless efforts of the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs, that is responsible for the implementation of the Programme of Assistance. 

8.       Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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