STATEMENT BY MR NATHANIEL KHNG, MINISTER-COUNSELLOR (LEGAL), PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 84, ON THE RULE OF LAW AT THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS, SIXTH COMMITTEE, 9 OCTOBER 2025

Thank you, Mdm Chairperson, 

1        I wish to begin by reaffirming Singapore’s unwavering support for the rule of law at the national and international levels.  Small States like Singapore fundamentally depend on respect for the rule of law for our survival and prosperity.  It is only with the rule of law that international peace and security can be maintained, and sustainable development can be achieved.  

2        My delegation thanks the Secretary-General for his report under this agenda item.  We take note of the information that it contains on the United Nations’ rule of law-related activities.  On the subtopic, “The rule of law at the national and international levels at the eightieth anniversary of the United Nations”, allow me to share three reflections. 

3        First, the work of the United Nations in the progressive development of international law and its codification has contributed significantly to the rule of law at both the national and international levels.  Many important treaties have been developed, negotiated, concluded and implemented under the auspices of the United Nations.  Despite the multifold challenges confronting the world in recent memory, including a global pandemic, the work of the United Nations in this regard has continued.  Singapore is happy to have made contributions to this work, which have included leadership in major treatymaking processes such as the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea presided over by Ambassador-at-Large Tommy Koh and the BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference presided over by Ambassador for International Law Rena Lee. 

4        Second, the work of the United Nations in the peaceful settlement of disputes has served to promote and uphold the rule of law at the national and international levels.  The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principle judicial organ of the United Nations, has made important contributions in this regard through its judgments that have settled disputes on the basis of international law, and advisory opinions that have developed and clarified international law.  Singapore, on our part, has been a strong supporter of the work of the United Nations in the peaceful settlement of disputes.  We have been a staunch advocate for the ICJ, including with respect to its adequate resourcing to ensure the efficiency of its work. In line with our support for the ICJ and deep commitment to international law, Singapore has nominated Ambassador Rena Lee for election to the ICJ for the term 2027-2036.  Singapore has also sought to improve accessibility to complementary mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes.  Examples include our hosting of an international office of the Permanent Court of Arbitration and being a venue for the settlement of investment disputes administered by the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).  Singapore is also the first country to have a model agreement for proceedings before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to take place outside the ITLOS  headquarters, and we will soon be the first country to have a staffed ICSID office outside of its headquarters. 

5        Third, the rule of law at the national and international levels has been strengthened by international law-related capacity-building and technical assistance undertaken by the United Nations.  Such initiatives have enabled many developing countries to better understand and implement their international law obligations. Singapore, on our part, was proud to contribute to this work.  We had, for instance, served as a co-facilitator for the resolution that established the trust fund for the ICJ Judicial Fellowship Programme.  The trust fund has provided greater opportunities for nationals from developing countries to gain valuable knowledge and experience in the practice of international law.  Singapore also seeks to complement the United Nations’ initiatives through our own capacity-building programmes.  We established the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) in 1992 to share our experiences with fellow developing countries.  Under the SCP, we organise capacity-building programmes on topics such as International Trade Law and the International Law of the Sea that deal with common challenges faced by fellow developing countries. Singapore will organise an SCP course on the work and instruments of the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) in March 2026.  We also continue to co-organise the UNCITRAL Academy during the annual Singapore Convention Week, as a forum for knowledge-sharing on the Singapore Convention on Mediation.  We are committed to supporting the capacity-building needs of developing countries, especially fellow small States.  

6        I want to conclude by emphasising the importance of the Pact for the Future.  In the Pact, Member States reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to acting in accordance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations and its purposes and principles.  Singapore was honoured to have been the proponent of two rule of law-related actions in the Pact—namely, Action 17 relating to the ICJ and Action 22 on maritime safety and security.  The Pact, which integrates the rule of law throughout, provides the foundation for efforts by the United Nations and its Member States to strengthen the rule of law at the national and international levels in the coming years.

7        Thank you, Mdm Chairperson.