STATEMENT BY
MS. AZNIFAH ISNARIAH ABDUL GHANI
REPRESENTATIVE OF MALAYSIA
ON ITEM 79:
UNITED NATIONS PROGRAMME OF ASSISTANCE IN THE TEACHING,
STUDY, DISSEMINATION AND WIDER APPRECIATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
AT THE SIXTH COMMITTEE OF THE 75TH SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
NEW YORK, 6 NOVEMBER 2020
Mr. Chair,
Malaysia aligns itself with the statements delivered by the representatives of Guyana and Cambodia on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, as well as ASEAN.
2. We thank the Secretary-General for his report and commend the Codification Division for their untiring efforts in implementing the various activities under the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law (the Programme of Assistance).
3. I wish to also take this opportunity to express my delegation’s gratitude to Her Excellency Martha Pobee, Chair of the Advisory Committee, for her excellent steering of the Committee’s work. We wish her well in her next endeavours.
Mr. Chair,
4. International law is the legal bedrock governing and regulating inter-State relations. Better understanding and appreciation of international law thus contributes towards the strengthening of international peace and security as well as the promotion of friendly relations and cooperation among Member States. Within this context, the importance and significance of the Programme’s objectives cannot be overstated.
5. Unfortunately, the implementation of the Programme of Assistance has not been spared from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Training programmes like the Regional Course for Latin America and the Caribbean, the International Law Fellowship Programme and the 2020 Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea have had to be cancelled or postponed. We further note from the report that COVID-19 related measures have also, to some degree, impacted the production of new lectures and other materials for the Audiovisual Library of International Law.
6. The present exceptional circumstances oblige us to be creative in exploring new ways and means to conduct our day-to-day business. Malaysia thus values the efforts of the Codification Division to provide virtual training to the participants of the affected courses, including a remote self-paced learning curriculum, as an interim means of capacity-building. We are also pleased to note that the Division continued to engage with its vast networks of alumni through online lectures and seminars.
7. Fully cognizant that the in-depth exchanges and long-lasting bonds created with in-person training could not be replaced, we are nonetheless of the view, that the use of information and communications technologies to disseminate information to a broader audience should be further encouraged and enhanced. The Audiovisual Library of International Law plays an important role to ensure the continuation of the activities of the Programme of Assistance, especially during this challenging period. Malaysia notes with appreciation the continuing efforts of the Codification Division in increasing the Library’s linguistic and geographical diversity.
Mr. Chair,
8. The Programme of Assistance is important to our fundamental quest in instilling the rule of law in international relations. Malaysia is pleased to participate in the Advisory Committee and will continue to support the Programme for the benefit of generations of legal practitioners, now and in the future.
Thank you.
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