UNITAR, the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar and the International Law Association invite you to attend the High-Level Dialogue on Justice and Capacity-Building in International Law. Taking place on 7th May 2025 from 12:00 - 13:30 p.m. at the Palais des Nations, Room S4, this event brings together leading legal scholars, practitioners and diplomats to critically examine how the legal capacities of Developing Countries, Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are perceived and operationalized within international law, and how these perceptions influence international legal outcomes for these countries.
The conversation will centre on two key questions: 1) How does legal scholarship currently describe state legal capacity in international law, and 2) how can this capacity be modelled and strengthened to ensure more just and effective outcomes? Anchored in both theory and practice, the dialogue seeks to address systemic barriers while identifying innovative, equitable strategies for legal empowerment.
Following hearing from panel discussions, attendees are invited to attend a networking reception. At the end of the event, a summary paper will be published capturing the key points of discussion, conclusions, and recommendations. This paper will be co-written and co-published by UNITAR and the Permanent Mission of the State of Qatar.
Event Agenda
Opening Speeches
Topical Discussions:
- Overview of International Law and Capacity Building- Building Legal Capacity in Arab States: Strengthening Participation in International Law and Global Governance
- Modeling Legal Capacity
- Framework for Developing Legal Capacity
- Implications for International Legal Outcomes
Q&A Session