Pictured Alan Stephens, Director of Research of the Clemens Nathan Research Centre, London. By A. Rangarajan. The sixth Shabtai Rosenne Memorial lecture was held at the Peace Palace Academy Building on the 20^th of March 2017. The Lecture was delivered by Dr. Tal Becker, Legal adviser, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This was followed by a panel discussion with eminent luminaries taking part in it. H.E. Judge Julia Sebutinde, H.E Ambassador Andreas D. Mavroyiannis and Professor Malcolm N. Shaw QC were on the panel. For additional Kim Vermaat’s pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157678278193404 H.E. Judge Julia Sebutinde is a sitting Judge of the International court of Justice since 2012, H.E Ambassador Andreas D. Mavroyiannis has been the Greek-Cypriot community representative and negotiator since 2013 on the Cyprus problem and Professor Malcom N. Shaw QC is a practicing Barrister of international repute on various aspects of International Law. This was followed by the release of the 5^th edition of the Rosenne’s Law and Practice of the International Court: 1920-2015. The first copies of the 4 volume edition were presented to the President of the ICJ H.E. Judge Ronny Abraham by Professor Malcolm N. Shaw QC. All speakers paid rich tributes to late Professor Shabtai Rosenne for his contribution to the theory and practice International Law. Rosenne was not only a distinguished lawyer, he was an able diplomat as well.

The Proceedings were opened by Jeroen Vervliet, Director of the Peace Palace library and were chaired by Alan Stephens, Director of Research of the Clemens Nathan Research Centre, London. H.E. Ambassador Aviv Shir-On, the Israeli ambassador to the Netherlands, gave the closing words of the evening.

The well attended lecture had several dignitaries present in the audience. Daniel and Sippy from the Rosenne family, President of the UN Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals- President Theodor Meron, Judges of the International Court of Justice – Vice-President H.E. Judge Ahmed Yusuf & H.E. Judge Pete Tomka, H.E. Judge Fausto Pocar- from the International Court for the Former Yugoslavia, Head of the Curatorium of the Hague Academy for International Law- Prof. Yves Daudet, Secretary General of the PCA- Hugo Siblesz and Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court- Mr. James Stewart were present. Ambassadors from Chile, Cyprus, Canada, Cameroon and the Philippines were in the audience as well.    

On the picture Ugandan Ambassador Mirjam Blaak greeting Ambassador Dillum Haymandoyal (Mauritius to the EU, ACP Group and Benelux countries) and spouse. 13 March 2017, Residence of Mauritius in Brussels:  HE Ambassador Dillum Haymandoyal hosted a reception commemorating the 49th anniversary of independence of his country, and 25th anniversary as a republic. 

Independence Day, is marked yearly on 12 March  highlighting the 1968’s adoption of a constitution in Mauritius as well as the end of British colonial rule. Officially the country became at the time a Commonwealth realm sharing HM Queen Elizabeth II as “Queen of Mauritius” until 1992, when a republic was proclaimed. The country itself is named after German-Dutch prince, Maurits of Nassau (Moritz von Nassau), Governor of the Dutch Provinces of Holland, Zeeland, Gelre, Overijssel, Groningen and Drenthe. In Latin his name was Mauritius, hence the name of the islands colonised by the Dutch in 1598. 

During his short allocution Ambassador Haymandoyal thanked the presence of his Ethiopian counterpart, HE Teshome Toga Chanaka, Chairman of the African, Caribbean and South Pacific (ACP) Group of States’ Committee of Ambassadors. Ambassador Haymandoyal brought attention to his country’s golden jubilee of independence to be celebrated in 2018. 

For further information: Missions of Mauritius to the EU, the OPCW, the ACP Group and the Benelux countries: http://www1.govmu.org/portal/sites/mfamission/brussels/index.htm Government of Mauritius: http://www.govmu.org/English/News/Pages/A-series-of-activities-organised-to-mark-National-Day-Celebrations.aspx    

International Women’s Day celebration in the Netherlands

The Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in The Hague in collaboration with the Rwandan Community in the Netherlands, celebrated International Women’s Day on the 18^th March under the theme ‘Preserving the Dignity Regained’. Internationally, it was celebrated under the theme ‘Be Bold for Change’. This occasion brought more than 200 guests from several dignitaries together including ambassadors, civil societies in the Netherlands, Rwandan diaspora and friends of Rwanda. The gathering served as a platform to reflect on the achievements registered so far, the challenges and the way forward in regards to women empowerment in Rwanda and the Netherlands. For additional pictures, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157678343375263 The master of ceremony Ms Joelle Mpinganzima, welcomed everyone at the Hilton Hotel in The Hague and thanked the Embassy of Rwanda for continued collaboration in organization of the International Women’s Day. She moderated the program that started with a panel discussion led by Ms Joy Uwanziga and Mr Robert Kayinamura about women empowerment and culture. The key message by Mrs Christine Safari, representative of the Rwanda Women Diaspora, was about the essential role of gender equality in attaining women empowerment. The event, that also included several dance performances by the Inganzo Cultural Troop and a colorful fashion show, further highlighted the importance of equal representation of women at all levels of government and the integration of gender issues in all aspects of development. The guest of honor was Mrs Leontine Van Hooft, CEO of GreenDreamCompany & Ubuntu Impact Investments in the Netherlands. She is the director and co-founder/owner of GreenDreamCompany and Ubuntu Impact Investments. Both firms work closely together and in partnerships on the development of creative leisure, hospitality and tourism industry, in upcoming markets like Rwanda. Mrs Van Hooft said in her speech that it’s still crucial to women to get connected worldwide through internet, global society and women’s networks. She said that each individual can and should make a difference and quoted an African proverb: “If you think you are to small to make a difference, you have not spent the night with a mosquito!” H.E. Ambassador Jean Pierre Karabaranga, thanked all guests who attended the celebration and reminded that Rwanda has done enormous progress in all sectors for last 22 years from scratch, under the exceptional leadership of President Paul Kagame. Specifically, in the journey to gender equality and women’s empowerment, a lot has been done and great progress has been registered making Rwanda one the best performers worldwide. “This year Rwanda celebrated this day for the 42^nd time with the theme: ‘preserving the dignity regained’. For Rwandans in general and for Rwandan women in particular we have good reasons to celebrate this day, considering tremendous achievements and progress we did in struggling for gender equality and women’s empowerment”, said the Ambassador. Women empowerment in Rwanda In Rwanda women make up 52 per cent of its population; the country was ranked 6th worldwide in the World Economic Gender Gap Report 2015, up from 7th position in 2014. The report ranks 145 countries on their ability to close the gender gap in four fundamental areas: economic participation and opportunity, education, health and survival, and political empowerment. However, despite an impressive record on gender equality, challenges still prevail. —— Photography by the Embassy of Rwanda in The Hague.

Among the group we can see H.E. Mrs. Rosa Batoréu, Ambassador of Portugal, H.E. Mrs. Sabine Nölke, Ambassador of Canada, Mrs. Reem Mufleh, spouse of the Ambassador of Jordan, Mrs. Tatiana Delvalle spouse of the Ambassador of Panama, Mrs. Mrs. Midori Inomata, spouse of the Ambassador of Japan, Mrs. Maja Christina Steenwijk – Groot, Mr Joao Goncalves, Mrs. Nataliia Tymoshenko, spouse of the Ambassador of Ukraine, H.E. Mr Olexander Horin, Ambassador of Ukraine, H.E. Mr. Hiroshi Inomata, Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Mr. Adam M.J. Sadiq, Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Mrs. Mita Mukul, spouse of the Ambassador of India, Mrs Rusdijana Puja, spouse of the Ambassador of Indonesia, Mrs. Maryam Jahangiri, spouse of the Ambassador of Iran, Mrs. Fabiola Soto, spouse of the Ambassador of Mexico, H.E. Mrs. Martine L.A. van Loon Labouchere, Grand Mistress Honorair of H.M. King Willem Alexander and H.M. Queen Maxima, Mrs. Fanny Elena Arquelas Calle, spouse of the Ambassador of Bolivia, H.E. Konstantine Surguladze, Ambassador of Georgia and spouse Mrs. Nino Rusadze, Mrs. Najat Bellouki, spouse of the Ambassador of Morocco, Mrs. Linda Zin, spouse of the Ambassador of Malaysia, H.E. Alireza Jahangiri, Ambassador of Iran, H.E. Mr. Abdulaziz Abdullah Abohaimed, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Mrs. Nadine Farahat, spouse of the Ambassador of Egypt, Mr Roy Lie A Tjam, Diplomat Magazine and Mrs. Helen Keedwel, Shell.   By Roy Lie A Tjam. 15 March 2017, a momentous day, when the Dutch people were in suspense about results of the election, a select group of Diplomats, invited by Maja Christina Steenwijk – Groot, went on a trip to what might be the top Diamond polishing enterprises in the Netherlands, Gassan Diamonds. The visit began with a short introduction by the President and Director, Mr Benno Lesser who warmly welcomed the guests. He then followed on with an explanation of diamonds in general and then a description of the Gassan 121 cut; Gassan 121 cut is an exclusively cut Diamond, patented by Gassan Diamonds. It is a 0,22 carat stone, G colour and S.I. clarity. For additional pictures by Sheila Turabaz, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157678079322224

This was followed by a guided tour that introduced the guests to the process by which diamonds are made, how they are mined and polished, and finally set in jewelry. The visitors were presented with the new collection of “Gassan Diamonds” and exclusive jewelry, competitively priced and beautifully designed. After the tour, Gassan Dimonds hosted a raffle in which a Gassan 121 cut was on offer. The lucky winner is Mrs. Reem Mufleh spouse of Ambassador of Jordan.The ‘sparkling’ visit was concluded with a champagne drinks reception and buffet lunch.