STATEMENT BY MR JASON TAN, DELEGATE TO THE 81ST SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ON AGENDA ITEM 77, UNITED NATIONS PROGRAMME OF ASSISTANCE IN THE TEACHING, STUDY, DISSEMINATION AND WIDER APPRECIATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW SIXTH COMMITTE

Madam Chair,

1        Singapore thanks the Secretary-General for his report on the implementation of the Programme of Assistance and the activities planned for the coming year.

2        My delegation would like to assure you of Singapore’s continued support for the Programme, which plays a critical role in strengthening the international rule of law in these uncertain times. The Programme greatly contributes to capacity building for developing countries and helps promote greater respect for, and adherence to international law. We commend the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs for its tireless efforts in implementing the activities of the Programme, despite the deteriorating liquidity situation of the Organization and the cash conservation measures implemented to address the situation, which have had a significant impact on the implementation of the Programme. 

3        My delegation notes with appreciation that the frequency of the training programmes, as mandated by the General Assembly, was preserved in the face of these challenges. My delegation is pleased that the 2026 editions of the International Law Fellowship Programme and the regional courses for the Asia-Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean were successfully conducted. We applaud the regional and gender inclusivity in the awarding of the fellowships. We see value in the in-person format of the courses which also provides opportunities for participants to build professional relationships with each other and the faculty. We encourage the Division to continue to strengthen the alumni network of participants and explore regional virtual events driven by the alumni to minimise any additional resources.   

4        Singapore notes with concern that the liquidity situation has adversely affected the planning and implementation of training courses, due to uncertainty regarding access to regular budget funds. We underscore the importance of funding the Programme of Assistance through the UN Regular Budget to ensure predictable funding, and to give practical effect to the international community’s collective commitment to capacity-building in international law. Extrabudgetary resources also have an important role in supplementing the regular budget. In this regard, we invite the Division to continue exploring practical solutions to ensure the continued delivery of the training programmes at their mandated frequency. These could include partnerships with academic institutions, imposing tuition fees where appropriate and increasing the numbers for self-funded participants. In our capacity as a member of the Advisory Committee, we stand ready to work constructively with other delegations to identify a sustainable way forward for the Programme.

5        Turning to the UN Audiovisual Library of International Law (AVL) which is an invaluable resource of historical and contemporary material, we note with appreciation that the Division was able to continue work on the AVL despite the liquidity situation which resulted in temporary restrictions on hiring. This included the publication of 25 new lectures including a mini-series, and efforts to broaden the AVL’s reach and accessibility by making all lectures available in Spotify and including transcripts of new lectures on its website. We encourage the Division to explore how Artificial Intelligence could further improve access to the AVL’s extensive collection, including by transcribing and translating past lectures into the six official languages of the UN, subject to appropriate controls for quality assurance.

6        On international law training materials, we note that it has been almost 10 years since the publication of the International Law Handbook. The Division may wish to review the possibility of a second edition to include the new treaties and instruments since 2017.

Madam Chair,

7        Singapore continues to actively contribute to capacity building efforts in international law. Under the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) which was established to share Singapore's development experience with fellow developing countries, Singapore has organised courses covering a broad range of public and private international law topics, including the international law of the sea, international trade law, trends and challenges in international law, international dispute resolution, ocean governance and the BBNJ Agreement. In partnership with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), Singapore has also jointly organised courses under the Singapore Cooperation Programme and the UNCITRAL Academy, which provide practical training on international trade law and dispute resolution to government officials and practitioners from developing countries. These initiatives help support government officials in playing a more significant role in shaping and safeguarding the international legal order.

8        The Centre for International Law (CIL) of the National University of Singapore plays an important role in building a regional community of international law and practice, enhancing the region’s participation in the development of international law. The CIL’s Flagship ASEAN Law and Policy Academy convenes policy makers, practitioners and academics from Southeast Asia and beyond, connecting regional legal architecture with wider international law developments. The CIL also has a webinar series called the (UN)visible United Nations, where practitioners with UN experience discuss what the UN does behind the scenes to keep international law and multilateral cooperation moving. Recently, the first webinar on the progressive development and codification of international law at the UN featured officials from the Codification Division.  

9        Finally, Singapore wishes to thank Ambassador Samuel Yao Kumah, the Permanent Representative of Ghana, for his leadership of the Advisory Committee and to Ghana for their continued stewardship of the process. We also thank Secretary of the Advisory Committee Dr Markus Pallek for his contributions. Singapore looks forward to continuing to contribute constructively to the Committee’s work.

10      I thank you for your attention.