Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders of Antigua and Barbuda, who serves as the nation’s representative to the United States and the Organization of American States, will deliver the opening address at the United Nations’ launch of the Independent International Panel’s Report on Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State Relations. The event is scheduled for October 28, 2025, at the UN Headquarters in New York, coinciding with International Law Week. The initiative is jointly organized by Antigua and Barbuda and Canada, with additional support from Australia, Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. The groundbreaking report represents the first comprehensive legal examination of arbitrary detention practices, where foreign nationals are detained by one state to exert pressure on another—a practice that contravenes international law and undermines trust between nations. The document provides detailed legal analysis and actionable recommendations to enhance prevention, protection, and accountability. Ambassador Sanders will highlight Antigua and Barbuda’s early support for the Declaration Against Arbitrary Detention in State-to-State Relations, emphasizing the unique challenges faced by smaller states with limited consular resources. He will assert that such detentions constitute coercion rather than diplomacy. The event will also feature contributions from notable experts, including Dr. Marja Lehto, Vice-Chair of the Panel; Dr. Jean-Michel Arrighi, Secretary for Legal Affairs at the Organization of American States; Dr. Elina Šteinerte, Vice Chair of the UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture; and Dr. Alice Jill Edwards, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. The session will be broadcast live on UN WebTV from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m. EDT.
Sir Ronald Sanders to be Opening Speaker at United Nations Launch of Report on Arbitrary Detention
