On 22 August 2025, UNU will host “Honour International Law and Save Multilateralism”, a conversation with His Excellency Dr. José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. This event will start at 18:30 in the 2F Reception Hall at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo.
International law is grounded in the principle of sovereign equality of nation states — the idea that all states, regardless of size or power, possess equal legal rights and responsibilities. This principle forms the cornerstone of the Charter of the United Nations and the foundation of global cooperation. For Timor-Leste, a young nation forged through resilience and diplomacy, this principle is not merely theoretical, but fundamental to its identity and international standing.
Today, the international legal order faces mounting challenges: selective adherence, politicization of legal mechanisms and declining trust in multilateral institutions. As Timor-Leste prepares to become the 11th member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and continues to lead among small island developing states and least developed countries, it is uniquely positioned to advocate for a rules-based international system.
In this timely conversation, H.E. Dr. José Ramos-Horta will join UNU Rector Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala to explore the role of international law and multilateralism in shaping a more just and peaceful world. As the UN marks its 80th anniversary, the discussion will consider questions including: Can adherence to international law foster greater global peace? How can we reimagine multilateralism to reflect today’s geopolitical realities? What role can small and emerging states play in upholding the international legal order?
The UNU Conversation Series aims to foster audience participation; you are encouraged to engage with the speakers during the conversation and at the reception that will follow, where all event attendees are invited to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks while exchanging ideas and making new contacts.
Please note that this event will be in English. Advance registration (by 21 August at 15:00) is required. Please click on the REGISTER button above to access the online registration page. Please be prepared to present identification at check-in.
UNU@50
This event is part of the UNU 50th anniversary celebration. To learn more, visit: https://unu.edu/unuat50
About the Speaker
His Excellency Dr. José Ramos-Horta currently serves as the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. He previously served as Senior Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs (2002–2006), Prime Minister (2006–2007), and President (2007–2012). After his service in office, he acted as Special Representative to the UN Secretary-General from 2012 to 2014, and as the Chair of the UN High Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations between 2014 and 2016.
Alongside Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo, Dr. José Ramos-Horta was the co-recipient of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize for leading Timor-Leste towards independence and peace. Following the invasion of Timor-Leste by Indonesian troops, Dr. Ramos-Horta dedicated the next twenty-four years to establishing a human rights network to defend the rights of the Timorese.
Dr. José Ramos-Horta studied public international law at The Hague Academy of International Law in 1983 and earned a Master of Arts in Peace Studies from Antioch University in 1984. He also received training in Human Rights Law at the International Institute of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France and completed postgraduate coursework in American Foreign Policy at Columbia University in New York. President Ramos-Horta holds a Harvard University Diploma in Executive Leadership (1998). He speaks five languages fluently including Tetum, Portuguese, English, French and Spanish.
