In a move that highlights the Kingdom of Bahrain's continued commitment to advancing international trade law, Professor Marike Paulsson, the Secretary General of the Council for International Dispute Resolution in Bahrain and Deputy Chairperson of the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR) Board of Trustees, recently spoke at a two-day colloquium in Vienna. Hosted by the UNCITRAL Secretariat during the 80th session of Working Group II from 30 September to 4 October 2024, the event brought together global experts to discuss the recognition and enforcement of electronic arbitral awards.
As a key participant, Prof. Paulsson was invited to speak during the colloquium's fourth panel, which focused on ensuring consistency across UNCITRAL instruments and the solutions they offered.
In her speech, Prof. Paulsson discussed possible pathways for aligning legal frameworks with a digital economy and beyond. She referenced Article 2 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties 1969 (VCLT), which outlines essential definitions relevant to treaty law. She emphasized Article 31, the general rule of interpretation, highlighting its importance in understanding the application of treaties in a digital context. Additionally, she addressed Article 40, concerning the amendment of multilateral treaties, and explored its implications for adapting existing frameworks to new technological realities. Prof. Paulsson also examined relevant articles of the New York Convention--specifically Articles I, II, III, and IV--which pertain to the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards, and she provided insights from the New York Convention's drafting history, drawing attention to how historical context can inform current practices and adaptations in electronic arbitration.
This participation by Prof. Paulsson is a continuation of Bahrain's involvement in the UNCITRAL working groups, which has been facilitated through BCDR's ongoing engagement in these important meetings. This underscores BCDR's dedication to supporting the development of international commercial arbitration and modernizing dispute resolution mechanisms on a global scale.