The Dominican Republic will participate this Tuesday for the first time, in a hearing of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the main judicial body of the United Nationsbased in Peace Palace, HagueNetherlands.
This court is in charge of deciding the legal disputes between statesbut also emits advisory opinions on issues that may be submitted to it by specialized bodies or institutions of the UN. Tomorrow’s hearing will address this last point, “the request for an advisory opinion on the obligations of states regarding climate change”.
For him Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mirex), the country’s participation before this judicial body is historical and marks a significant milestone in the commitment of the Dominican State to international law and the promotion of justice on a global level. In fact, of the six countries that will have oral participations, Dominican Republic will be one, being the second speaker of the audience.
This request was issued by the UN General Assembly through the resolution 77/276 dated March 29, 2023 and in accordance with the provisions of article 96 of the Charter of the United Nations and article 65 of the ICJ Statute.
The Dominican delegation will be led by Boni Guerrero Singinglegal director of Mirex; Alejandra Torres-Camprubí, in her capacity as external legal advisor; and Julio José Rojas Báez, who is also vice president of the Inter-American Juridical Committee of the Organization of American States (OAS); accompanied by Juan Durán, Dominican ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
“Dominican Republic is highly concerned about the extreme level of urgency and seriousness that the climate emergencyespecially as a member of the group of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the United Nationsalong with 38 other States and 39 Associate Members. The Dominican Government reaffirms its commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation, strongly encouraging and supporting all efforts aimed at improving compliance and effectiveness of the international regime on climate change,” the Dominican Foreign Ministry said in a press release.
The other countries that will have oral participations are: Portugal, Romania, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Saint Lucia.
These consultations are carried out from December 2 to 13, 2024 in the Peace Palacein sessions that will be headed by the president of the Court, Nawaf Salam.
