Thank you, Mr. Chairperson,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China on agenda item 78 entitled " United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law". The Group of 77 and China would like to congratulate you and the members of the bureau on your election and ensure you of their full support.

The Group expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his report, which provides information concerning the implementation of the Programme of Assistance in 2019, as well as the activities planned for 2020. The Group also commends the laudable efforts of the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs in carrying out the mandated activities under the Programme of Assistance.

Mr. Chairperson,

The Group of 77 and China has been established to address the inequalities in the multilateral system and the imbalances in the global economy and in the trading and financial system. It is as such at the forefront of the efforts to enhance and advance a rules-based multilateral order, based on international law, and a just, equitable, and mutually beneficial global regime. The Group also believes that knowledge is power, and equitable access to information as well as capacity building are fundamental in addressing the inequalities developing countries are confronted to.

In this context, the Group reiterates its support to the Programme of Assistance as an effective tool for dissemination of international law, which is the cornerstone of the rules-based multilateral order, and of the pursuit and achievement of international peace and security and the promotion of friendly relations and cooperation among States.

The Programme in its different components is an integral and indispensable part of the efforts of the United Nations to promote international law. The jurists, academics, diplomats and other public officials from developing countries greatly benefit from the regional courses in international law, fellowships, publications and the Audiovisual Library of International Law.

In this regard, the Group is grateful that the necessary resources for the Programme were secured in the programme budget for the biennium 2018-2019 and underlines the importance of continuing to ensure appropriate funding in 2020 and beyond, including for the International Law Fellowship Programme, the United Nations Regional Courses in International Law for Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean, the legal publications and training materials, as well as for the further development of the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law, and for the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea

Mr. Chairperson,

The UN Audiovisual Library of International Law is an essential tool that provides international lawyers, scholars, diplomats and unlimited number of individuals and institutions around the world high-quality training free of charge through the Internet. The Group of 77 and China believes that it is important to continue promoting the access and the utilization of the UN Audiovisual Library. We also support the off-site recording sessions undertaken by the Codification Division in various locations in order to promote a broader geographical and linguistic representation of the recorded lectures and to record lecturers who are unable to travel to New York.

The Group commends the Codification Division's efforts in successfully completing the podcast project for the Audiovisual Library aiming to facilitate access to the lectures for users without reliable high-speed Internet on computers and mobile devices, thus ensuring wider dissemination and more egalitarian access to information.

Mr. Chairperson,

The Programme of Assistance plays a vital role in promoting the rule of law at the national and international levels. The promotion of the rule of law is one of the targets of Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is an important contribution to capacity-building in developing countries at all levels, and provides individuals, organizations and State institutions with valuable information and knowledge that can help advance personal and national development.

These capacity-building activities will contribute to the improvement of the participation of developing countries in different multilateral frameworks and instruments, as well as promote development of international law at the national level and ultimately help strengthen the rule of law globally.

In closing, the Group seizes this opportunity to express its appreciation to the Office of Legal Affairs for its tireless efforts to promote knowledge of international law in an inclusive manner and encourage it to continue to reach out to all States Members and Observers of the United Nations to inform them on ways and means to access and use available resources. While funding from the regular budget remains critical, voluntary contributions, including in-kind contributions, are also important. The Group of 77 and China expresses its appreciation to all Member States and organizations which have contributed to the continued success of the Programme.

I thank you.