On the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of its establishment, the World Bank Administrative Tribunal, in conjunction with the American Society of International Law (ASIL), will be holding a high-level symposium on 23 March 2010, one day prior to ASIL's 104th annual meeting.

The Tribunal's anniversary serves as an opportune juncture to reflect on the development of international administrative law as a distinct and effective part of the law of international organisations. To commence proceedings, Judge Robert A. Gorman, former President, founding member and longest-serving judge in the history of the Tribunal, will deliver a keynote address on the significance for international administrative law of the Tribunal's first judgment, de Merode et al v International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (1981). Judge Gorman's address will be followed by an expert commentary which will address the role of international tribunals in the development of international administrative law as a body of law. Thereafter a panel of experts will discuss the effect of tribunal judgments in the development of the internal laws and procedures of their respective international organizations.

In the context of assessing the state of international administrative law and its prospects, a panel will address issues of legitimacy and effectiveness. A further panel will address the implications of and prospects for a general appellate function in international administrative tribunals, a timely question following the establishment of a two-tier tribunal system by the United Nations in July 2009.

The symposium will be attended by authorities in the field of international administrative law, including judges and officials of administrative tribunals, legal advisers to international organizations and other experts. Members of the audience are expected and encouraged to participate fully in the day's events. Please consult the Tribunal's website for further details, including the programme (www.worldbank.org/tribunal).

Registration Information

The symposium will commence at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, 23 March 2010 at Room JB1-080 in the J building at the World Bank's Headquarters, located at 701 18th Street N.W., Washington, DC. All registered participants are invited to lunch and the cocktail reception. Regrettably, due to a high level of interest in the symposium, it is no longer possible to register for this event.

For further information about the symposium, please contact the Tribunal Secretariat at +1 202 458 0271 or tribunal@worldbank.org.