International Development Law Organization

IDLO Signs Seat Agreement for Branch Office in The Hague

THE HAGUE – Lilianne Ploumen, Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands and Irene Khan, Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), signed the Seat Agreement for the establishment of a Branch Office of IDLO in The Hague.

“This agreement cements a strategic alliance between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and IDLO and recognizes the centrality of the rule of law in addressing the many complex political, social, economic and environmental challenges of our times,” said Irene Khan.

As the only inter-governmental organization with an exclusive mandate to promote the rule of law, IDLO seeks to create a culture of justice by strengthening judicial institutions, supporting constitutional and legal reform, enhancing access to justice and facilitating innovative legal approaches for sustainable and economic development.

"We work in some of the poorest and most dangerous parts of the world. Preserving peace, eradicating poverty or encouraging economic opportunity all require good laws and regulations that are fairly administered by transparent and accountable institutions, and that produce fair outcomes,” said Irene Khan.

“With the opening of our Branch Office in The Hague, we look forward to forging partnerships with the other international organizations based in The Hague, and becoming a part of the legal community in the ‘City of Peace and Justice’,” added Ms. Khan.

During the signing ceremony, Ms. Khan highlighted IDLO’s commitment to gender equality and women's access to justice. IDLO has pledged to enhance the role of women in the justice sector and to support women to overcome the legal barriers they face in accessing justice and realizing their human rights.

“The Netherlands has been a founding member of IDLO and we are deeply grateful to the government and the city of The Hague for their support, commitment and investment in our Organization. We look forward to even closer cooperation and to supporting Dutch efforts to promote the rule of law,” concluded Ms. Khan.

In addition to the Branch Office in The Hague, IDLO has its headquarters in Rome, liaison offices to the United Nations in New York and Geneva, and country offices in Afghanistan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, South Sudan, Somalia (based in Nairobi) and Tajikistan, and carries out programs in more than 45 countries on five continents, including projects with a global reach.

For further information on IDLO’s relationship with The Hague or to interview Irene Khan, Director-General of IDLO, please contact: Judit Arenas, Director – External Relations (jarenas@idlo.int, +1 646 506 5996).

To view photos of the event, please see our Flickr set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/idlo/sets/72157638855478686/