The first international law seminar for African university teachers and researchers has opened in Ghana.

The seminar, which will close on Aug. 26, aims to provide high-quality training by leading scholars and practitioners from different regions and legal systems on a broad range of core subjects of international law.

It is being held in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Program of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law.

The UN Program was established by the UN General Assembly in 1965 to contribute to a better knowledge of international law “as a means for strengthening international peace and security and promoting friendly relations and co-operation among States”.

To date, the program has trained over 500 lawyers from Africa and provided training, audio-visual resources and publications to over a million legal advisers and government-appointed lawyers from Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the developed world.

Opening the seminar, Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Emmanuel Bombande said seminars of this kind would ensure that African officials and experts are fully informed and able to articulate the views and aspirations of citizens in multilateral legal fora where decisions affecting all countries are discussed.

“It is my hope that you would have a fruitful seminar and you will all go back to your various countries as teachers of International Law to help bring up the new generation of International Law practitioners, who will be relevant as we seek to chart a new agenda in the world with the new 2030 Development Agenda,” said Bombande.

The Secretary of the Advisory Committee of the UN Program, Virginia Morris said the seminar was also an important first step in ensuring that international and African Union law courses are available at the academic institutions and the government training centers across Africa.

“This will not be a quick or easy journey but I believe the goal is worth pursuing and I am confident that we can achieve this goal if we all work together and if we continue to enjoy the strong support of member states.” said Morris.

Source:coastweek.com