Signing Ceremony held between the Academy, the Philippine Judicial Academy and the Philippine Supreme Court
During the official ceremony held on 14 March 2025, senior representatives of the Philippine Judicial Academy, the Philippine Supreme Court, and The Hague Academy of International Law gathered at the prestigious historical reading room of the Peace Palace to sign the Terms of Reference for the second Advanced Programme on International Law, developed by The Hague Academy of International Law at the request of the Philippine Judicial Academy and the Philippine Supreme Court.
The Terms of Reference outline the implementation details of a high-level professional training programme in international law for ASEAN Judiciaries, which will take place in February 2026 in the Philippines. The Secretary General of The Hague Academy of International Law, Professor Jean-Marc Thouvenin, and the Chancellor of the Philippine Judicial Academy, the Honorable Rosmari D. Carandang, delivered opening remarks, recalling and celebrating the fruitful relationship already established between the Academy and the Philippines, the centrality of international law in the work of judges, and the importance of continuing their excellent collaboration. Succeeding them at the podium, the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, the Honorable Ramon Paul L. Hernando, read the very inspiring speech of the President of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, excerpts of which are reproduced below.
“For the Philippines, international law is not merely a theoretical concept; it is a living framework essential for protecting national interests, ensuring justice for our people- wherever they may be, and asserting our sovereignty.”
“The Supreme Court of the Philippines is tasked with interpreting, harmonizing, and enforcing these international law principles in a manner that upholds our sovereignty and do not subserve our national interest. These principles must complement and strengthen our legal order, ensuring that our engagements with the world reflect not just international obligations but the highest aspirations of our people.”
“To address the challenge of implementing and fully integrating international legal principles, the need to constantly enhance judicial education on international law finds importance.”
“This is where our efforts here today take on greater relevance. As I noted previously, The Hague Academy of International Law (THAIL) has long been a beacon of excellence in advancing the study and teaching of this area of law. A partnership with THAIL presents an invaluable opportunity—one that has the potential to inspire, shape, and elevate the discourse on international legal issues in our country, in the ASEAN region, and beyond.”
“The upcoming 2026 Special Programme in the Philippines for ASEAN Judiciaries, the first-ever special course in international law for the region’s judiciaries, represents a historic step forward. This initiative will not only equip ASEAN judges with advanced international legal knowledge to address complex cross-border issues, but also strengthen regional collaboration through shared learning and judicial dialogue. Such an undertaking reaffirms our commitment to judicial excellence, regional cooperation, and a deeper integration of international legal principles into domestic jurisprudence.”
The ceremony concluded with a speech by the Ambassador of the Philippines to the Netherlands, His Excellency Mr. J. Eduardo Malaya.
At the conclusion of the signing ceremony, the Secretary-General expressed his profound gratitude to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, represented by His Excellency Mr. J. Eduardo Malaya, for its generous and substantial voluntary contribution of USD 15,000 in support of the Academy’s scholarship programme.
