HAMILTON SHIRLEY AMERASINGHE MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIP
ON THE LAW OF THE SEA
INFORMATION NOTE

Updated 24 August 2012

HISTORY OF THE FELLOWSHIP

            The Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship (HSA) was established in 1981, in memory of the late Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe, the first President of the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (1973-1980), in recognition of his contribution to the development of the law of the sea. The late Ambassador Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe of Sri Lanka had been Chairman of the Ad hoc Committee to Study the Peaceful Uses of the Sea-Bed and Ocean Floor from 1967 to 1970 and subsequently, of the Standing Committee for the Peaceful Uses of the Sea-Bed and Ocean Floor beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction, from 1970 to 1973.

            HSA was established by General Assembly resolution 36/108 on the “United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law” of 10 December 1981 and by General Assembly resolution 36/79 on the “Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea” of 9 December 1981.

            By the said resolutions, the General Assembly invited Governments, as well as universities, philanthropic foundations and other interested national and international institutions and organizations to contribute to HSA.

            The Fellowship was established as an activity to be carried out within the framework of the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study and Wider Dissemination of International Law (TLA Trust Fund).

PURPOSE OF THE FELLOWSHIP

            The Fellowship is intended, primarily, for Government officials as well as research fellows or lecturers who are involved in ocean law or maritime affairs, or related disciplines, either in Governments or educational institutions and bodies. The purpose of the Fellowship is to assist candidates to acquire additional knowledge of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in order to promote its wider appreciation and application, and to enhance specialized experience in those fields.

            The selected fellows are provided with the facilities to undertake research and further study at one of the participating institutions for a minimum of three to six months and a further one to three months of internship with the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs. Special consideration is given to persons who may not have the means or facilities for further studies, training or experience in their own or other countries. The Fellowship is intended to further the selected fellows in their vocations and thus to benefit their countries.

PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS

            Several educational institutions are associated with the Fellowship programme and have offered facilities for selected fellows to carry out specialized research and studies for a minimum period of three to six months. The institutions participating in the programme are:

• Centre for Oceans Law and Policy, University of Virginia, U.S.A.
• Dalhousie Law School, Halifax, Canada
• Faculty of Law, University of Oxford, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva, Switzerland
• Institute of International Studies, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
• Institute of Maritime Law, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Marine Policy Center, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, United States of America
• Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law, Heidelberg, Germany
• Netherlands Institute for the Law of the Sea, University of Utrecht, Netherlands
• Research Centre for International Law, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Rhodes Academy of Ocean Law and Policy, Rhodes, Greece
• School of Law, University of Georgia, United States of America
• School of Law, University of Miami, United States of America
• School of Law, University of Washington, United States of America
• William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawaii, United States of America
• Gerard J. Mangone Center for Marine Policy, University of Delaware, United States of America
• Centre for International Law, National University of Singapore, Singapore

How to make financial contributions:

Cheques should be made payable to TLA/HSA-Project 9681 in order to ensure the appropriate allocation of the contributions and should be sent to: 

JP Morgan Chase Bank
International Agencies Banking
New York, New York
USA
(SWIFT Code:  CHASUSS33)
(ABA Domestic Routing Number:  021000021)
Bank Account Title:  United Nations General Trust Fund
Bank Account Number:  485001969

APPLICATIONS:

Click to download The Guidelines and Rules concerning the HSA (click to download in Adobe PDF format)

The Fellowship application package consists of the following three forms which must be completed by applicants. Other forms will not be accepted. Please note that incomplete applications cannot be considered.

1. The Personal History and Proposed Research Study Programme Form (click to download in MS Word format)

This Form must be completed legibly by the candidate. Each question must be answered clearly and completely in order to ensure that the application will be processed.

2. The Nomination Form (click to download in MS Word format)

This Form must be completed and signed by the official nominating entity, if applicable.

3. The UN Medical Form (click to download in Adobe PDF format)

Please make sure to enclose your laboratory results and x-rays. To ensure receipt, it is advisable to send this form by mail (certified or registered) or via courier.

The HSA Fellowship Coordinator
Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea
Office of Legal Affairs
United Nations Secretariat, Room DC2-0438
New York, N.Y. 10017, U.S.A.

NEW Comprehensive List of Recipients of the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship Award