What is the aim of the Diplomatic Conference?

The aim of the Diplomatic Conference is to conduct formal negotiations that will result in the adoption of the MLA Convention. This will be a crucial step within the MLA Initiative, which is led by Slovenia, together with Argentina, Belgium, Mongolia, the Netherlands and Senegal (“Core group”). More than 70 States have already expressed their support for the Initiative.

Participation

Representatives from UN Member States, UN Observers, international and non-governmental organisations will participate in the Diplomatic Conference.

Participation in the Diplomatic Conference is by formal invitation only.

Credentials

To participate actively in formal negotiations, all States, both Supporting States and States that have not expressed formal support for the MLA Initiative, are required to submit a scanned copy of credentials well in advance of the Conference to the following e-mail address: mla-initiative.mzz@gov.si. The originals should be submitted to the Secretariat of the Conference at the venue no later than 24 hours after the beginning of the Conference, if possible.

Organisation of work of the diplomatic conference

Negotiations will take place in plenary sessions and working groups.

MLA Initiative Supporting States may actively participate in the Conference. Other participants may attend the Diplomatic Conference as Observers.

The primary working language of the diplomatic conference will be English. Plenary sessions will benefit from English, French and Spanish interpretation.

All the documents relevant for the Diplomatic Conference (draft treaty, draft rules of procedure, draft agenda, etc.) are available at the MLA Initiative website.

A revised draft MLA Convention as well as revised draft Rules of Procedure will be available to the invitees in March. This is in order to reflect discussions and comments made by the participants at the MLA Initiative informal consultations, which took place in The Hague, from 27 to 29 January 2020.

Call for written comments on Draft MLA Convention

States, international organizations and civil society are invited to share written comments, preferably concrete text suggestions, on the Draft Convention dated 20 March 2020 before the 1st of July 2020. Written comments can be sent by e-mail to MLA-initiative@minjenv.nl.

We kindly ask you to refrain from including personal data in these written comments (e.g. track-changes that trace back to an individual).

Practical information

All practical details, e.g. visa requirements and visa application process, accreditation, accommodation and transfer options, special hotel room prices for the participants, etc. can be found in the ”Handbook for Participants”.

Any questions regarding the Diplomatic Conference can be sent to: mla-initiative.mzz@gov.si.