Annual Report 2011 - 2012

Annual Report 2011 - 2012
against Corruption 2003, which criminalises a wide range
of acts of corruption.
Asian African Legal Consultative Organisation (AALCO):
This Division participated in the Annual Session of the Asian-
African Legal Consultative Organisation (AALCO) held at
Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 27 June-1 July, 2011. AALCO is
an inter-governmental body, established to promote mutual
cooperation and consultations among the Asian-African
States, in the field of international law. This Division also
participated in some of the meetings/conferences organised
by AALCO during the current year which included those on
Trafficking of Women and Children/Migrant Workers, and
Protection of Children, and International Commercial
Arbitration. One of the Officers of this Division participated
in a training programme organised by AALCO for its Member
States, early this year.
International Criminal Court (ICC): This Division followed
the work of the International Criminal Court and gave legal
opinion on requests for cooperation in investigations by the
Court as well as briefs on cases in its docket.
Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia: The
Division continued to participate in the Working Group II
on legal issues of the Contract Group on Piracy off the Coast
of Somalia. This Working Group has accomplished the
assigned tasks, such as continuous exchange of information
on legal challenges arising from piracy off the coast of Somalia,
examination of the possibility of establishing additional
mechanism for prosecution of suspected pirates, establishment
of an international legal network consisting of legal experts,
developing a 'legal tool box' containing the check-lists of steps
States may take to ensure that they are able to prosecute
suspected pirates and list of impediments, and terms of
reference for an International Trust Fund. The Working
Group was also involved in the compilation of the
international legal basis for prosecution and developing generic
templates on evidentiary standards, 'ship rider' agreements and
for drafting an MoU on the conditions of transfer of suspected
pirates and armed robbers. The Working Group is also
examining proposals for establishing international tribunals
for dealing with the crimes of piracy. The recent 9th Meeting
of the Working Group held in Seychelles deliberated on the
issue of the use of privately contracted armed guard personnel
on board ships and agreement on trial and incarceration of
pirates in different countries.
This Division has also formulated a free-standing
comprehensive anti-piracy draft legislation.
United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
(UNCITRAL): The Division has participated in the meetings
of the United Nations Commission on International Trade
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Law (UNCITRAL) and its Working Groups dealing with
Insolvency Law, Security Interests and Online Dispute
Resolution. The 2nd Meeting of the Working Group on Online
Dispute Resolution was held in Vienna from 14-18 November,
2011. The Working Group is mandated to prepare legal
standards on online dispute resolution mechanism for ecommerce
disputes, as the traditional means of dispute
settlement are time consuming and expensive, and e-commerce
cross-border disputes require tailored, early and cost-effective
settlement that does not impose costs, delays and burdens
that are disproportionate to the economic value at stake.
UNIDROIT: This Division participated in the Committee
of Governmental Experts for the Preparation of a draft
protocol (space assets) to the Convention on International
Interests in Mobile Equipment held in Rome from 21-25
February, 2011. The space assets protocol aims to facilitate
the privatisation and commercialisation of space activities
and services across nations by protecting private investments
in order to promote the growth of the space industry.
Further, it is expected to enhance the availability of spacebased
services to many other countries, which presently do
not pursue space activities of their own.
Hague Conference: The 6th Meeting of the Special
Commission of the Hague Conference to review the practical
operation of the Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of
International Child Abduction, 1980, was held from 1-10
June, 2011, at The Hague. The Division participated in the
meeting, which reviewed the practical operation of the
Convention, identified difficulties and proposed remedial
measures for its better implementation.
Financial Action Task Force (FATF): The Legal and Treaties
Division participated in meetings on legal and institutional
mechanisms, and administrative procedures for compliance
with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards and
guidelines, especially in the areas of extradition, mutual legal
assistance, and for prevention of terrorist financing and money
laundering. It also participated in the intersessional meeting
of the Working Group on Terrorism and Money Laundering
(WGTM), held in Paris from 7-9 September, 2011.
Legal Issues in Disarmament: The Division participated in
the negotiations of the proposed 6th Protocol (on cluster
munitions) to the Convention on Certain Conventional
Weapons and Prepcom on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).
Antarctica: This Division participated in the Legal and
Institutional Group Meeting of the XXXIV Antarctic Treaty
Consultative Committee Meeting (ATCM) from 20 June-1
July, 2011, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Tobacco Protocol: The Division participated in the first
meeting of the Informal Working Group on a protocol on