From FOI Stacie Strong: I realize that most of us are busy finishing up with exams and taking some well-deserved time off, but I would like to circulate information regarding an opportunity to attend the upcoming UNCITRAL Working Group II (Arbitration and Conciliation) meeting in February as an observer, in case it might be of interest to you or your students.
The American Society of International Law (ASIL) has been granted observer status at the Working Group II meeting, which will be held February 2-6, 2015, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The meeting will consider a possible new convention on international commercial mediation as well as the revision of the UNCITRAL Notes on Organizing Arbitral Proceedings (see the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its forty-seventh session, A/69/17, paras. 128 and 129). The provisional agenda for the session with annotations A/CN.9/WG.II/WP.185 and working papers A/CN.9/WG.II/WP.186 and A/CN.9/WG.II/WP.187 are available on the website of UNCITRAL at www.uncitral.org. Information about UNCITRAL rules of procedures and methods of work is available here.
ASIL is able to send several representatives to the meeting, and the inquiries are being coordinated by the Private International Law Interest Group (PILIG). Since I am one of the PILIG Co-Chairs, I ask that you contact me at strongsi@missouri.edu no later than close of business on Wednesday, January 7, 2015, if you are interested in attending. Please include a copy of a recent c.v./resume and a brief (one-paragraph) summary describing which of the agenda issues are of interest to you and how your expertise may be relevant. Young professionals are encouraged to apply as well as more established individuals. Students are also eligible to attend, although this will be a relatively small delegation and we would need to ensure proper supervision.
Those seeking to attend the UNCITRAL meeting as an ASIL observer must be a member of both ASIL and the PILIG. Attendees must cover their own travel expenses and must also comply with various conditions imposed by ASIL. For more information on joining ASIL or PILIG or on the various conditions, please contact Stacie Strong.
