Professor Dapo Akande elected to the International Law Commission: Foreign Secretary's statement
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss gave a press statement on the election of Professor Dapo Akande to the International Law Commission.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Professor Dapo Akande, pictured in October 2021 when he was the UK candidate for the ILC election.
The UK candidate Prof Akande, has been successfully elected to the International Law Commission (ILC) today, Friday 12 November. Two other UK-backed candidates, Japan’s Professor Masahiko Asada and Kenya’s Professor Phoebe Okowa have also been successfully elected.
The ILC is a crucial tool in the progressive development of international law, which can help strengthen and promote a just and peaceful system of international relations.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said:
I am delighted that Professor Dapo Akande has been elected to the International Law Commission. With his exceptional expertise and experience, Prof Akande will make a valuable contribution to the Commission’s mandate. He is not just the best of British, he is one of the very best internationally, and will make an outstanding member of the International Law Commission.
The UK is a staunch supporter of international law, the International Law Commission and its vital work, and this election is testament to the long tradition of British lawyers and judges meaningfully contributing to international legal bodies.
Jointly nominated by the UK, Japan, Kenya, Nigeria and Slovenia, this is the first time a candidate has been supported by countries from 4 different United Nations regional groups.
Background
- the ILC, is a UN body of legal experts responsible for developing and codifying international law and composed of 34 members who are voted onto the Commission by UN member states to serve 5-year terms
- with over 25 years of legal experience, Professor Dapo Akande is a Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford, and Director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict, as well as a Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford
- a prolific author, Professor Akande has written more than 60 publications, and is the founder of EJIL:TALK!, the widely read European Journal of International Law blog, as well as a board member for several journals, societies and civil society organisations around the world
- Professor Akande’s term at the International Law Commission will start on 1 January 2023
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