Grotius Chambers will hold a webinar for those interested in understanding the legal implications of COVID-19 for international organisations.
Date: Thursday, 2 April 2020
Time (CET): 1:30 pm (Group I) and 3 pm (Group II)
Online-based webinar
This highly practical webinar will canvass international public and private law issues and is of special interest to practitioners specializing in international organisations law as well as legal counsel of international organisations and Embassies.
Background
On 11 March 2020, the WHO declared the spread of COVID-19 a pandemic. At the time, 114 States had reported cases. In a bid to halt the spread of the virus domestically and internationally, many States started winding back public life: travel bans; cancellation of events such as conferences; and other, sometimes unprecedented, measures to slow the progress of the disease.
Many States affected by the pandemic host international organisations – which are not immune to the measures taken to slow down the spread of the virus. Staff must work from home, travel must be postponed, meetings and conferences are deferred, venue reservations and catering contracts cancelled.
It is crucial that international organisations develop a good understanding of how the law may respond to the exceptional situation created by COVID-19 – and what impact this may have on the organisations.
The Webinar
In this free webinar, the Partners and Experts of Grotius Chambers will discuss public and private international law issues that international organisations may face as a result of COVID-19 measures.
The panel will consider private contracts regularly entered into by international organisations in pursuit of their missions. In the context of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the resulting State measures to slow down the spread of the virus, the Panel will ask what legal issues the organisations must be aware of in relation to current and future contracts; what are their responsibilities; which risks do they face; and how can those risks be mitigated. A particular focus of the webinar will be on the partial and full non-performance of contracts entered into by international organisations and any consequences that may arise for the organisations in this regard.
Registrations are now open.
Webinar participation will be limited to ensure a lively discussion. The webinar will be distributed to registered participants closer to the event.