The Informal Meeting of Legal Advisers opened on 27 and 28 October 2025, marking the opening of 鈥淚nternational Law Week鈥� at the United Nations.
In her opening remarks聽the Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel, Elinor Hammarskj枚ld, expressed her gratitude to the delegation of Mexico for the organization of the meeting.
The Legal Counsel also warmly welcomed the participation of the President of the General Assembly, whose presence underscored the central role of international law in the work of the United Nations, especially as the Organization celebrates its 80th anniversary.
In keeping with established practice, the Legal Counsel briefed delegations on recent developments in international law and the UN. These included the role of OLA in supporting the UN80 initiative, the recent advisory opinions of the International Court of Justice, the importance of international humanitarian law, judicial cooperation with national authorities and the protection of UN personnel and facilities.
Other topics discussed during the meeting included the relevance of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), which is set to enter into force in January 2026.
The Legal Counsel emphasized the importance of legal advisers in translating international norms into practical realities and also highlighted the increasingly complex landscape facing international law and multilateral cooperation. She emphasized the urgent need for legal solutions to address global crises and reaffirmed the critical role of the United Nations 鈥� and especially its General Assembly 鈥� as a unique and indispensable platform for reflection, dialogue, and collective action on the legal challenges of our time.
