CURRICULUM VITAE

DR HICHAM HAMDAN

Son of late judge Dr. Salim Hamdan, he has been in the diplomatic service since February 1978.

 

 

Diplomatic Destinations

1. Lebanese Embassy in Prague (former Tchecoslovaquia) since august 1978 to April 1983.

2. Secretary at the Lebanese Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria, since May 1983 until December 1985.

3. Secretary at the Lebanese Permanent Mission in the European office of the United Nations in Geneva, between June 1987 and September 1991. Permanent Delegate and Chargé d'affairs since July 1989 until July 1990.

4. Secretary at the Lebanese Embassy in London since September 1991 until September 1993. He took part in activities of the International Maritime Organization and the international Coffee Organization as Representative of Lebanon.

5. Between 12 December 1994 and September 1999, he was appointed deputy permanent representative of the Permanent Mission of Lebanon at the United Nations in New York.

6. Simultaneously with his position at the Permanent Mission, he was Consul general of Lebanon in New York, from September 1998 until July 1999.

7. He was a member of the Center of Studies and Legal Matters at the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the periods 1986-87, 1989-94 and 1999-2000.

8. In March 1999 he was promoted to Counselor.

9. In 1989 he got a Ph.D. in International Public Law from Charles University, in Prague.

10. In September 2000, he was appointed Ambassador of Lebanon to Argentina.

11. Between 2001 and 2003, he was appointed non-residence ambassador to Paraguay.

Studies and researches

Research on Tchecoslovaquia's private international law (1983).

Research on the Basel Agreement on the Tran boundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their disposal  (Publishing House, UNEP, 1989, in Nairobi).

Research titled "Studies about the International Organizations in Geneva (Ouaidatte, publishing house 1993).

 Book on the international Forces in South Lebanon. Race between Peace and War, Resolution Nº 425 (Ouaidatte, publishing house 1993).

Book sample on "Environment Care in Lebanon” in the year 1994 (February 1995).

Book on the International Peace and Security system during the Cold War. Study on the UN International Forces ( published in the year 2000).

Book on the role of the United Nations in the 21^st Century (published in the year 2004).

Studies and Reports

Translation into Arabic of Tchecoslovaquia's Constitution (1979).

Study of Family Law in Tchecoslovaquia (1980).

Study of the International Forces in South Lebanon (in English) (1988).

Study titled: "The Israeli invasion of Lebanon in terms of International Law (October 1982).

The UN International Forces in South Lebanon: a Panorama (Lebanese newspaper As-Safir, 1982).

An introduction to understanding Resolution Nº 425 and the role of the international Forces in South Lebanon (Lebanese newspaper An Nahar, 1987).

Intellectual Property and the technological race (Lebanese newspaper As-Safir, 1987).

International Forces in the Palestinian Territories (Ash-Sark Al Awsat newspaper, London, 1988).

 International Archeological Protection (Al Fakr Al Arabi magazine, Beirut, 1988).

Interview on Lebanese TV to explain the Basel Agreement to control transportation of dangerous waste across the borders (1989).

Study on the Truce Agreement between Lebanon and Israel in 1949 (Ash- Shark  Al.- Awsat newspaper, London, 1992).

 Study on Environment in Lebanon (Al Anwar and Al Hayát newspapers, Beirut, 1993).

Annual report (in English) on Environment in Lebanon, and other Mediterranean Sea countries.  (Annual Book of International Environment Laws, University of Detroit, USA, 1992 and 1993).

Study on the UN interest in the role of women (Magazine published by the Lebanese Committee for the Rights of Women, 1993).

Study on the UN stand concerning the New International Order (Lebanese newspaper Al-Hayat, 1997).

Study on the international order and its influence on the national policies of each country (As Safir, 1998).

 Study titled "Development in the Third World? ". (As-Safir, 1998).

Study titled "International Criminal Court, a historical event” (As Safir, 1998).

Study titled "Multilateral diplomacy and the UN's growing role in today's world ". (Administration and Development magazine, Beirut, 1999).

Meetings and Congresses

Mr. Hamdan participated in numerous international political, economic, social and legal Conferences and Congresses. Among the most important ones are:

 Work of the Human Rights Committee, where he presented a draft resolution, which was adopted by the Committee under Nº 54/1990, dated 6 March 1990. That resolution clearly defined for the first time in a UN Congress, that Israel was an occupying force in South Lebanon.

 The works of the Committee of Experts where a draft of an International Agreement on the international register of audiovisual works was prepared. He also participated in the Diplomatic Congress where this Agreement was signed.

The works of the Experts Committee to standardize all legal documents concerning copyright.

The works of the Experts Committee to write a project to settle conflicts among countries concerning intellectual property.

The works of the Experts Committee to review the first supplement to the Protocol of Geneva Conventions in 1949.

The works of the Experts Committee to suggest solutions to the refugees issues. At his suggestion, internally displaced persons were included for the first time in the mandate of this committee. He also participated in an international congress on refugees in Indochina.

The works of the Experts Committee on the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes, which took place in Geneva, Luxembourg and Basel. He also took part in the Diplomatic Congress for the signature of that Convention. After signing the Basel agreement, his work on it was published by the UN as the first of its kind.

He was appointed Secretary of the Legal Team that prepared the elements for a Protocol related to the responsibility and indemnity for the damage caused by the Tran boundary movement of hazardous wastes. The team met in Nairobi (Nigeria) for that purpose.

He also participated in the works of the Diplomatic Congress for the creation of this Court, and was elected member in the Drafting Committee. He was elected president of the coordination team for the Arab groups participating in the Congress.

He represented Lebanon at the Preparatory Committee for the  50º Anniversary of the UN.

He participated in:

 The preparatory meetings for the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) in 1992, as well as in the Second World Congress on Climate. He presented a plan to establish a research center for sustainable development in the Arab Region.  

The preliminary works about the Children's Rights Agreement signed by the UN in 1990.

 The works concerning the UN Congress for Trade and Development.

The meetings concerning the reform of the UN and its Security Council. He represented Lebanon in the works of the Arab Experts Committee on the reform of the Security Council.

The meetings of the Security Council to discuss the Lebanese complaint against Israel after the 1996 attacks.

The meetings of the General Assembly called for the same issue. He participated in the negotiations on Resolution Nº 22G, where the UN backed Lebanon's right to indemnity for the losses caused by those attacks.

He was a member of the Lebanese delegation during the meetings of the Un General Assembly (1994-1999).

 Participated in the working groups on preventive diplomatic peace-building, post conflict peace-building and penalties.

He introduced the concept of emergency help to that of post conflict peace-building countries. He also suggested the idea that the UN adopt Lebanon as a model of post conflict peace building country.

He represented Lebanon in the works of the Economic and Social Council, especially when Lebanon was a member of this important Council, between 1996 and end of 1998. He also participated in the works of the office of this Council, when Lebanon preceded it in 1997.

He represented Lebanon on various occasions in the works of the First Committee of the General Assembly for Disarmament including the Congress which reviewed Non Proliferation Treaty of Nuclear Weapons Treaty in 1995 of the negotiations on land mines used against individuals.

He represented Lebanon in the works of the 2^nd Committee of the Un General Assembly on Economic Affair. He also participated in various international meetings, conferences and encounters within the scope of the Committee, especially discussions on the reform of economic and development policies of the UN, including the coordinating system among its regional operative organizations.

He participated in the preparation for the Summit of Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995, as well as in the preparatory work for the Congress for Human Settlements in Istanbul in 1996.

He represented Lebanon in the special session of the UN General Assembly in June 1997 to review and evaluate the outcome of the Summit Meeting on Development and Environment that took place in Brazil en 1992.

 He represented Lebanon at the Executive Council of the UN Development Program and the UN Fund for Population in 1998- 1999.

He participated in several meetings on Women and Children matters and represented Lebanon in UNICEF's Executive Committee in 1995 and 1996. He was elected vice-president of the said Committee in 1996. He also led a team of Council members who paid working visits to several African countries. He analyzed Ms. Garcia Marshell's report on the situation of children in armed conflicts.

He represented Lebanon in the works of the 4th committee of the General Assembly, in particular those of the Special Committee on International Security and PeaceKeeping Operations.

 He represented Lebanon at the UN Information Committee between 1995 and 1999.

He represented Lebanon in the works of the 6^th Committee of the General Assembly on Legal Matters. Within this frame, he participated in the meetings of legal counselors of UN country members, as well as in all the works of the Committee and Special Groups for the preparation of international agreements, including the Committee of the host country, the Committee for the reinforcement of the UN Charter, meetings of the country members on the Convention of the Law of the Sea, as well as meetings of the Committee on International Trade Law.

He also participated in the preparation of the Framework Agreement for the use of international water resources other than navigation, the agreement of protection of migrant fishing, an agreement to combat terrorism with explosives, a draft project of the Agreement to combat nuclear terrorism, an agreement against financing of terrorism, as well as an Agreement on the Basel Statute for the International Criminal Court.

He was a member of the Consulting Committee of the UN to study, understand, promulgate and publish international law, between 1997 and 1999.

He represented Lebanon in many meetings of the non aligned countries.

He participated in the drafting of the final conclusions of the Non Aligned Summit in Cartagena (Colombia) in 1995, and in Durban (South Africa) in 1996.

He represented Lebanon in many meetings of the working groups of the Group of 77 and participated in the writing of the final conclusions in the meetings of the  Foreign Ministers of the said Group.

He represented Lebanon en many meetings of the Asian groups and participated in the discussions on the guidelines of the Group, including its representation within the Security Council.

He participated in meetings of the Arab groups and in drafting for special resolutions concerning their interests in different areas.

International Posts

 Elected President of the Committee on rules  for the 1989 session . President of the 17^th session of the special Committee on preferences.

Vice-president of the Committee for Trade and Development in the sessions held in October 1989/March 1990.

He then presided over the First Subcommittee which incorporated the concept of sustainable development in the work of the Council for the first time.

 Elected coordinator for the Asian group in Geneva between April and June 1990. He led the working group in the preparing meetings for the 8^th UNCTAD on Sustainable Development.

A member of the Consulting Committee for the UN program to promote study, teaching and publication of international law.

 Elected Vice-president of the UNICEF Executive Committee and Coordinator for the Asian Group in 1995.

 He led a team of UNICEF Executive Council which visited work on the spot in Africa ( Uganda and Borkina Faso) to have a closer look at the Organization's activities.

 A member of a team on the financing of the UNRWA between 1995 and 1999.

A member of the drafting committee for the preparation of the statute  of the International Criminal Court during the Diplomatic Congress that took place in Rome (June, July 1998).

Seminars and Congresses

 He participated in numerous conferences and several working sessions organized by the World Bank, the UN division of Social and Economic Affairs, the Division of Peace-Keeping Operations, the UN Center of Research and Training, the UN University, some specialized organizations and NGO's, among them.

 Three sessions on industrial property in Damascus, Amman and Geneva (1987 and 1989).

 Two sessions on International Economy at the UN Institute of Research and Training.

 Round of studies on international negotiations at the Center of Applied Studies (Institute of Higher Studies, Geneva, 1989).

 Seminar at the International Institute for Humanitarian Law in San Remo (Italy) on the development of peoples movements (1990).

 Working shops organized by the UN Center of Research and Training titled: "Multilateral negotiations on the Environment "(29-30 May 1997).

 Seminar organized by the UN University titled: "The UN and the international environment in the 21^st Century".(14.15 November 1997).

 Seminar on the International Humanitarian Law at the international institute of Criminal Law in Syracuse (Italy), 1998.

 World Congress to preserve the pantanal regions, which took place in Washington DC from 26 to 28 February 1999.

 During his stay in Argentina, he participated in meetings all along twenty-one different provinces of the country. Lets mention some academic institutions such as CARI, National Academic of Geography, University of Buenos Aires, University of La Plata, Interamerican University, University of Lujan, University of Chaco, the Military Academia, the Organization for Ambassadors for Peace, The Turism School “La Suisse”, The “Gallegas” Federation Entities, the Exterior Service Institute of Argentina (ISEN) and other social entities in Mar del Plata, Chacacbuco, Chascomus, Salta and Esquel.

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