AGC Latest News

 

​

The 60^th Annual Session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) which took place from 26^th to 28^th September 2022, began with the inaugural event hosted by the Government of India. The Session was held in hybrid format encompassing a physical conference in New Delhi, India, as well as through videoconference.

The inaugural event of the 60^th AALCO Session commenced with the welcoming remarks from H.E. Dr. Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol, Secretary-General of AALCO. This was followed by an opening statement by H.E. Ms. Jia Ma, Minister at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of India on behalf of the President of the 59^th Annual Session, and an inaugural statement by the H.E. Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Republic of India, as the Chief Guest and lastly a vote of thanks by H.E. Hon. Geophrey Mizengo Pinda, Deputy Minister of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, the United Republic of Tanzania on behalf of the President of the 58^th Annual Session.

The Session was attended by Ministers, Deputy Ministers, foreign dignitaries and representatives from 41 AALCO member states across Asia and Africa, as well as representatives from observer states and international organisations, including ASEAN.

The Brunei Darussalam delegation was headed by Yang Mulia Dayang Hjh Zuraini binti Hj Sharbawi, Acting Attorney General, and officers from the International Affairs Division, Attorney General's Chambers.

The meeting considered and agreed on the organisational matters of AALCO including among others, the election of H.E. Ms. Uma Sekhar, Additional Secretary, Legal and Treaties Division, Ministry of External Affairs, India, as the President of the 60^th AALCO; together with H.E. Mohammad Saeed Al-Hilu, Acting Minister of Justice Sudan, as the Vice-President.

The meeting also admitted several Observer States namely Russia, Namibia, Eritrea, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Lao PDR, Rwanda, Mali, Madagascar and Zambia. In addition to ASEAN, representatives from the U.N. Human Rights Council and the Hague Conference on Private International Law were also observing the Session. The meeting is committed to its work on capacity building and internship programmes at AALCO.

During its second and third day, the Session deliberated on substantive agenda items under the AALCO work programme, namely violations of international law in Palestine, selected items on the International Law Commission (ILC) agenda, international trade and investment law, the status and treatment of refugees, and environment and sustainable development.

AALCO was established in November 1956 and is an inter-governmental organisation that examines issues of international law and serves as a forum for Asian-African cooperation in legal matters of common concern. Primarily, AALCO examines international law matters which are before the United Nations (UN), specifically the Sixth Committee of the UN General Assembly and the International Law Commission, including international economic trade law and related matters such as the WTO and the work of the UNCITRAL; law of treaties; developments on oceans and law of the sea; human rights; international law on cyberspace and international criminal law. AALCO presently have 47 countries as its members, comprising almost all the major States from Asia and Africa; Brunei Darussalam became a member in 2003. AALCO holds its Sessions annually, on a rotation basis between the two regional groups.

– END –