Statement by Mr. Abdul Hameed, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations, New York on Agenda Item 78: The United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law (22 October 2010)

Madam Chair,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Secretary General for detailed report contained in document A/65/514. We would also like to thank the Secretariat for useful information provided in the briefing on the UN Programme of Assistance in the teaching of international law.

Madam Chair,

Pakistan has been an ardent advocate of the cause espoused by the ‘UN Program of Assistance in Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law’. We appreciate the activities under taken during the reported period to help disseminate the knowledge of international law through various means. The activities of Codification Division and the usefulness of Audiovisual Library deserve special mention in this regard. We also appreciate the efforts of Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, International Law Division and of the Treaty Section.

Madam Chair,

As discussed during the briefing and as provided in the report, we find it encouraging that there is a growing demand for international law training. It is hoped that the increased demand will be met with equally strong efforts at provisions of scholarships and fellowships. We appreciate the candour and detail of the briefing provided to the Advisory Committee of which Pakistan is a member.

We have noted with concern the fact mentioned in the report that no regional courses have been held since 2005. We hope that the efforts of the Codification Division in this regard will prove to be fruitful and necessary resources will be arranged to actualize the potential of assistance in this area. We acknowledge the fact that several countries have shown their willingness to provide the necessary support to start regional courses.

Madam Chair,

We understand that there has been an increase in the budgetary demands for the activities aimed at dissemination in general and that of Audiovisual Library in particular. We note with appreciation that the use of Audiovisual Library has considerably increased. A number of developing countries are using the facilities of the Library and the trend is rising.

We note that the Codification Division has invited universities, philanthropic foundations, institutions and organizations, as well as individuals, to make voluntary contributions both financial and in-kind. We hope that an effort will be made to develop partnership with universities, philanthropic foundations and institutions and organizations from the developing countries.

Madam Chair,

Pakistan would continue to work with the international community to achieve the desirable goal of wider appreciation and dissemination of international law.

Thank you, Madam Chair.