29 April 2013

EU supports the visit of Professor Yash Pal Ghai,

world-renowned constitutionalist, helping in the peace process

between the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front

In the context of its continuous support of the Peace Process between the Government of the

Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the European Union (EU)

provides, together with other types of support, funds for organising visits of eminent persons,

recognised and highly respected experts on different aspects of peace negotiation.

Upon the request from the Parties, the European Union will fund the visit of yet another

eminent person, Professor Yash Pal Ghai to the Philippines during the first week of May,

2013.

This is a second time Professor Ghai visits the Philippines in this capacity, following his

earlier visit last January 2013, during which he held a 3-day workshop with the MILF on

Autonomy and Basic Law. This time, Professor Ghai will share comparative knowledge from

other case studies and suggest framework of rules of procedures and structure to make the

Transition Commission an efficient joint body, an example of an effective partnership of both

Parties, and set the scene through rules of procedures which would allow partnership and

deter conflicts during the drafting process of the Basic Law.

On day one, Professor Ghai will hold a

workshop for both Parties in a special

session. The second day will be devoted

to a formal session to discuss and adopt

the structure and rules of the procedures,

where he has been requested by the

Parties to provide his guidance and

facilitate caucus of both sides to resolve

any divergences that may arise.

EUROPEAN UNION

Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines

The EU continues to support the Peace Process and provides funds for visits of eminent

persons. Both Parties do benefit from the in-depth experience of peace processes in different

parts of the world.

The visits of the eminent persons are facilitated by the NGO Centre for Humanitarian

Dialogue, funded by the EU.

Biography of Professor Yash Pal Ghai

Prof. Yash Pal Ghai, is a world-renowned

constitutionalist. He has over 35 years of

experience as a professor in public law, human

rights, rule of law, and inter-ethnic relations in

some of the most prestigious universities and

in advising countries on constitutional,

decentralisation, and autonomy matters. Most

recently, Prof. Ghai headed the Constitutional

Commission which drafted a new Constitution

for Fiji. Before that, he advised many other

countries in various capacities including

notably Nepal, Cambodia for which he was the

Special Representative of the United Nations

Secretary-General, Kenya, Afghanistan, Iraq, India, China, Papua New Guinea, and the

Solomon Islands. Prof Ghai has published extensively on constitution-making, public law,

sociology of law, ethnic relations, comparative law, and law and development.