Activities of international intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations relating to space law : The International Law Association

MAUREEN WILLIAMS

Viena

Congreso; Fiftieth Session of the Legal Subcommittee of the Committeee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS); 2011

UN Office for Outer Space Affairs

Activities of international intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations relating to space law The International Law Association (ILA) Report from the Chair A.   Background information       The International Law Association (ILA) was founded in 1873 in Brussels and its Headquarters are in London. Lord Mance, Justice of the UK Supreme Court, is the Chair of the Executive Council and Professor Nico Schrijver, from the Netherlands, is currently the world president, until 2012. Professor Christine Chinkin (UK) is the Director of Studies of the institution.       The ILA objectives, in accordance with its statutes, are the study, clarification and development of international law, public and private, and the furtherance of understanding and respect for international law. The focal point of its activities is the international committees which work permanently in-between the biennial conferences, and of which seventy-four have been held to date. The Seventy-fifth ILA Conference is programmed for August 2012 in Sofia.       The ILA Space Law Committee was set up in New York in 1958 and its present officers are Professor Maureen Williams (HQs/Argentina) as Chair and Professor Stephan Hobe (Germany) as General Rapporteur. The Committee has been permanent observer to COPUOS and both its Subcommittees since 1990 and reports annually thereto.