Background Information

          In 1989, an initiative was taken by the Legal Advisers of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Canada, India, Mexico, Poland and Sweden to bring together the Heads of Legal Departments of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Member States of the United Nations. As a result, informal discussions have been held among these persons at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the margin of the meetings of the Sixth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly.

          The term "Legal Adviser" in this context is a short form for "Head of the Office responsible for International Legal Services". By this is meant the person who is responsible for international legal matters within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and for formulating instructions to the representatives of his or her country in the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly or for supervising this activity.

Miguel de Serpa Soares

The next informal meeting of Legal Advisers of Ministries of Foreign Affairs will be held as follows: 27 and 28 October 2014 from 3pm to 6pm, respectively.

A reception will be hosted by The Association of the Bar of the City of New York (ABCNY) in honour of the Legal Advisers' meeting on 27 October 2014 from 6:30 pm through 8:30 pm at 42 West 44th Street.