SPECIAL SUB- COMMITTEE ON
LEGAL & INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES (SCLII) MEETING
02 May 2018 SCLII Meeting Participants
The GLA programme is a crucial component within the MSG Secretariat providing a range of technical and policy advice both internally and externally to our Members.
Among other things, the programme is tasked with ensuring timely and sound advice on Governance processes and procedures which supports the reform agenda of the Secretariat. It also works on strengthening MSG Policies and Regulations by supporting its implementation.
Furthermore, the programme provides support to the Governing Body process through the transmission of papers. In addition, it supports MSG Members in areas of institutional strengthening including anti-corruption institutions, Auditor General Offices, DPPs; Judges, Parliament, electoral bodies etc and also supports Members in addressing governance issues.
The legal aspect of the programme covers the provision of legal advice to the Director General and Executive team, Corporate team, MSG programmes and staff, and legal overviews on the Secretariat’s documents.
The GLA programme’s strategic priority areas include:
- Parliamentary Democracy
- Human Rights
- Corporate Services
- MSG Treaties
- Legislative Strengthening
GOVERNANCE
General Counsel
Ensures timely and sound advice on Governance processes and procedures which supports the reform agenda of the Secretariat
Institutional Strengthening
Support MSG members in areas of institutional strengthening including anti-corruption institutions, Auditor General Offices, DPPs; Judges, Parliament, electoral bodies
Support to Members
Support Members in addressing governance issues
Corporate Law
Strengthening of MSG Policies and Regulations by supporting its implementation as well as convene SCLII to consider reviewing, approving or replacement of existing or new policies
Support to Executive Management
Support to the Governing Body process through transmission of papers and other matters as requested by the Executive
Strengthening Partnerships
Draft MOU’s and liaise with stakeholders on strengthening partnerships to coordinate programme delivery and support.
Mr. Romulo Nayacalevu
(Former) Programme Manager – Governance & Legal Affairs
GOVERNANCE & LEGAL AFFAIRS PROGRAMME
The Governance & Legal Affairs (GLA) Programme supports the Secretariat by managing the governance, legal, policy and advisory functions of the MSG Secretariat. The GLA ensures that the reforms and decision undertaken to support the reforms strengthens the Secretariat’s work and deliveries to its Membership and are in sync with various legal structures and regimes.
The GLA also supports the Secretariat in developing strategic developments with other organisations and strategic partners and through MOU’s to strengthen and support the work programmes of the MSG Secretariat in areas of Trade, Climate Change, Security, Culture and Sports Development.
The GLA program is a crucial program within the MSG Secretariat providing a range of technical and policy advise within the MSG Secretariat and externally to our members.
LEGAL
MSG Secretariat Support
Provide legal advice to the Director General and Executive team when sought.
Provide legal advice to the Corporate team on issues of policies and regulations.
Provide legal support and advise to MSG programs/staff including the vetting of documents as it relates to their programs.
Provide legal overviews on internal and external documentation of the Secretariat including press release.
Support to our Members
Support Members on legal matters including working on the ratification of the core MSG treaties.
Provide technical expertise and support to members on areas of human rights implementation including support on treaties reporting; domestication; implementation; UPR; NHRIs.
Convenes SCLII and ensures the proper transmission of issues of the Secretariat to SCLII.
LEGAL INSTRUMENTS
OTHER STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
Strengthen and Build Key partnerships
The purpose of these partnership is to identify organisations that have similar mandates to work on programme areas of the MSG Secretariat and work with them in programme delivery. This common sense approach saves resources, time and exhausting our members from silo approaches which is often common to development assistance by partners. Our MOUs signed in 2019 were with International IDEA; UNDP Pacific; USP; International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies Secretariat (IFACCA); MSG EMB Association; Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP). While discussions for an MOU continue with UN Women; UN OHCHR; Asia Pacific Forum for National Human Rights Institution (APF); PIFS.
DG Ambassador Amena Yauvoli signs our MOU with Ms Leena Rikila Tamang, the Regional Director for Asia Pacific of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. Left ( Mr. Adhy Aman, Senior Program Manager IDEA; Ms Tamang; Ambassador Yauvoli and Mr. Romulo Nayacalevu (Manager GLA MSG)
Members of the Scoping Team with the Director General of the Ministry of Justice Ms Dorosday Kenneth. (Left: Romulo Nayacalevu (MSG Secretariat); DG Dorosday Kenneth; Ms Rosslyn Noonan (APF) and Dr Jayshree Manghubai (SPC RRRT)
Human Rights Treaty Support Work
In partnership with SPC and in line with the MOU with SPC, various human rights training and support activities were organised and held in Vanuatu.
The GLA Programme was invited by Vanuatu’s Ministry for Justice (MOJ) to support the Government in a Scoping Study on the feasibility of establishing a national human rights institution. A draft report was finalised by the scoping team and sent to the Director General for the MOJ.
The Scoping Team included the Pacific Community’s Regional Rights Resource Team and the Asia Pacific Forum on National Human Rights Institution.
INAUGURAL MSG MINISTERS FOR WOMEN AND SENIOR OFFICIALS CONFERENCE TO ADDRESS THE ELIMINATION OF SEXUAL AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
