ASEAN signs deal on cooperation

HANOI – The Asean member states on Thursday signed a declaration to further strengthen and enhanced its cooperation between the nations as well as sharing knowlegde to best equip the judiciary of the respective ASEAN nations in handling international interest cases during the health crisis.

Council of ASEAN Chief Justices together with the top magistrates signed the Hanoi Declaration during their first ever-online meeting. The Judiciary of Vietnam chaired this year’s event.

Philippine Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta reaffirms the country’s judiciary and it’s commitment on advancing the Rule of Law in the ASEAN region.

Peralta said that they are gathered to continue our sworn obligation to unite and strengthen our judicial cooperation within the ASEAN region.

Under the Declaration, the ASEAN chief justices agreed to conduct the master class for ASEAN judges and judicial officers on the Hague Convention and on the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments in civil or commercial matters.

The accord also said that the agreement for the Working Group on Judicial Education and Training is to identify new ways of conducting training and education programs.

The top magistrates on the meeting also discussed how their respective judiciaries handled court operations during the health crisis. The Council of ASEAN Chief Justice agreed to consider sharing their respective crisis management experiences on the Covid-19 pandemic on their ASEAN Judiciaries Portal.