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Philippines deposits instrument of ratification of the Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts

Thursday, July 7, 2022 - 15:00

Ambassador and Chargé d'affaires, a.i, Ariel R. Peñaranda of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations deposits the instrument of ratification of the Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts with Mr. David Nanopoulos, Chief of Treaty Section at the UNCITRAL annual 55th session  (Photo Credit: New York PM)

 

UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, 7 July 2022 – Ambassador and Chargé d'affaires, a.i. Ariel Rodelas Peñaranda of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations deposited the instrument of ratification of the Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts (“Convention”) during the Digital Week of the 55th annual session of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) which took place in the UN Headquarters in New York.

The Convention, which was developed under the auspices of the UNCITRAL, aims at facilitating the use of electronic communications in international trade by assuring that contracts concluded and other communications exchanged electronically are as valid and enforceable as their traditional paper-based equivalents.

In his statement before the members of the UNCITRAL, Ambassador Peñaranda said,Ratification of the Electronic Communications Convention, the only treaty that deals with e-commerce, is in line with the Philippines’ E-Commerce Roadmap.”

With this ratification, we will also move forward with the establishment of guidelines for cross-border mutual recognition of digital signatures, electronic communication and contracts, noting that the Convention facilitates technology-neutral mutual recognition among parties. This is a significant milestone in strengthening our cross-border international trade with key trading partners, some of whom are already States Parties, as it ensures that fundamental principles of e-commerce are recognized and enforced across borders,” Ambassador Peñaranda further added.

Ambassador Peñaranda handed over the instrument to Mr. David Nanopoulos, Chief of the Treaty Section, Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations in the presence of UNCITRAL represent, Secretary-General Anna Joubin-Bret and Deputy Chair Eva Isabelle Eliette Niamke (Cote d’Ivoire).

The Convention was adopted on 23 November 2005 during the 53rd plenary meeting of the General Assembly and entered into force on 1 March 2013 in accordance with Article 23(1) of the Convention. The Philippines signed the Convention on 25 September 2007. The Philippines is the 16th state-member of the Convention and the second ASEAN state to ratify it. END

At the ceremony in the UN, Ambassador Ariel R. Peñaranda was joined by Trade Commission Benedict M. Uy and Philippine delegates to the 55th annual session of UNCITRAL - Department of Justice Senior State Counsel Rosario Elena A. Laborte-Cuevas and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Michael C. Fonacier. UNCITRAL Secretary-General Anna Joubin-Bret and Deputy Chair Eva Isabelle Eliette Niamke (Cote d’Ivoire) also witnessed the deposit (Photo Credit: New York PM).