THE HAGUE: The Supreme JudicialCouncil (SJC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with The Hague Academy of International Law in the Netherlands, within the framework of constructive bilateral relations between the two countries in various fields, particularly in the judicial and legal fields.
This memorandum of understanding reflects the mutual desire between the two institutions to consolidate technical cooperation and enrich judicial practice with best practices, thus contributing to enhancing the efficiency of the judicial system. It also reinforces both sides' belief in the importance of joint international institutional work to build judicial capacity, serving the efforts to achieve the goals of effective justice in both its subjective and objective sense.
The memorandum of understanding outlines the planned technical cooperation with the relevant academy by organizing a number of specialized capacity-building programs in priority areas of innovative judicial performance, enhancing the role of law and criminal justice, and raising awareness of international obligations. The memorandum also allows the two institutions to identify additional areas of common interest through periodic consultations.
It should be noted that, under the memorandum's executive protocol, four training programs will be implemented during 2025 and 2026, at a rate of two programs per year, in the field of international treaties and human rights agreements related to child protection and combating domestic violence, and their impact on the formulation of judicial rulings.
The memorandum was signed on behalf of the Supreme JudicialCouncil byJudge Nasser Al-Abdulghani, Acting Secretary-General of the Supreme JudicialCouncil, in the presence of Judge Sultan Matar Al-Dosari, President of the Court of Appeal, and on behalf of The Hague Academy of International Law by Professor Janmark Thovanen, Secretary-General of the Academy, in the presence of HE Dr Mutlaq bin Majed Al-Qahtani, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and HE Ferdinand Lansteen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the State of Qatar.
Judge Nasser Al-Abdulghani stated in this regard, "This memorandum represents an important step towards enhancing judicial knowledge communication at the international level, building institutional partnerships that contribute to developing national expertise, and supporting our ongoing efforts to qualify judicial personnel according to the highest international standards. We are proud of this cooperation with The Hague Academy of International Law, which is a leading international authority in the field of law."
On this occasion, Dr Mutlaq bin Majed Al-Qahtani, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, expressed his great pleasure at signing the Memorandum of Understanding, noting that this step represents a qualitative shift in the path of cooperation between the two countries and embodies the State of Qatar's commitment to strengthening cooperation with leading international legal institutions, in a way that serves its national interests and contributes to promoting justice and the rule of law.
The Ambassador emphasized that this initiative comes within the framework of the State of Qatar's ongoing commitment to strengthening and developing its legal and judicial system, keeping pace with global developments, reflecting its commitment to constructive engagement with international laws and standards, and enhancing its active presence in regional and international legal and judicial forums.
He explained that The Hague Academy of International Law is one of the most prestigious academic institutions specializing in international law. Founded in 1923, it enjoys a prestigious academic standing, attracting a select group of judges, diplomats, researchers, and graduate students from around the world, with the aim of offering advanced educational programs in public and private international law.
He pointed out that the signed memorandum of understanding provides unique opportunities for exchanging expertise and organizing advanced training programs, particularly in the fields of international law, arbitration, and dispute resolution, which will contribute to qualifying Qatari national cadres and equipping them with specialized legal and judicial skills.
He noted that the State of Qatar places great importance on supporting advanced education and investing in national competencies by strengthening its partnerships with prestigious international academic institutions. This aligns with the State's vision to enhance governance practices and consolidate the rule of law.
The Ambassador concluded by emphasizing that this agreement represents an additional step in the State of Qatar's legal diplomacy aimed at deepening ties of cooperation with the Kingdom of the Netherlands and expanding areas of understanding and knowledge exchange in various fields of international law.
In a statement, Ferdinand Lahnstein, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the State of Qatar, said, "I had the honour of attending the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation between the Supreme Judicial Council of the State of Qatar and The Hague Academy of International Law. This Memorandum represents an important milestone in strengthening cooperation between prestigious institutions in the Netherlands and relevant bodies in the State of Qatar, and I am honored to witness this achievement."
He added that the Memorandum of Understanding reflects a shared commitment between both countries to enhance cooperation in various fields, most notably judicial capacity building and supporting the effective administration of justice within our jurisdictions.
"As the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the State of Qatar, I am proud to be present at this significant moment and look forward with confidence to continuing to expand the frameworks of cooperation between the Netherlands and Qatar in the coming years, contributing to deepening mutual understanding, building knowledge, and enhancing prosperity for both countries," he said.
This step comes within the framework of the Supreme Judicial Council's efforts to expand its network of strategic partnerships with leading international law institutions worldwide. The Hague Academy of International Law is one of the most prominent institutions specializing in this field. Founded in 1923, it is one of the most prominent international players in international law research and studies, and has graduated a distinguished group of leaders from countries and diplomatic sectors in Europe and the world.
Under this agreement, specialized educational programs will be developed in several fields, such as international law, arbitration, and human rights, in addition to comparative legal studies, opening up new horizons for legal and judicial development.
