Judge Professor Attard Programme on the Common Concern of Humankind launched

The Department of International Law within the Faculty of Laws officially launched the Judge Professor Attard Programme on the Common Concern of Humankind on 7 May 2026. The event was held in the presence of third-year law students as well as Prof. Simone Borg, Dr Chris Soler and Dr Felicity Attard, all of whom lecture within the Department of International Law.

The proceedings were opened by the Head of Department, Prof. Patricia Vella de Fremeaux, who welcomed those present and formally announced the launch of the Programme. She underlined the significance of establishing a programme dedicated to the study of the Common Concern of Humankind within the Department, particularly in view of the concept’s close historical connection with Malta and with the work of Judge Professor David Attard, founder of the Department.

Prof. Omar Grech then delivered an address tracing the development of the Common Concern of Humankind from its origins in Malta to its present status as an accepted principle of public international law. He recalled that the concept was advanced in Malta in 1988, following the intellectual contribution of Professor Attard, and that it was subsequently reflected in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 43/53, which recognised climate change as a “common concern of mankind”. Professor Grech also outlined the concept’s later development through treaty law, climate litigation, and international judicial recognition.

The Dean of the Faculty of Laws, Prof. Ivan Mifsud, commended the initiative and emphasised its importance. He described Judge Professor Attard's visionary and timely conceptualisation of Common Concern of Humankind. He noted the critical relevance of the Common Concern of Humankind to issues central to human life and the future of the international legal order. Addressing the students present, the Dean encouraged them to draw inspiration from the example of Judge Professor Attard and to strive for excellence in the legal profession.

The event concluded with remarks by Judge Professor David Attard, who explained how his conception of the Common Concern of Humankind developed after reading a scientific report on climate change in the summer of 1988. He outlined his work in advocating for the concept within United Nations fora and reflected on its core legal elements. Judge Professor Attard expressed satisfaction at the gradual evolution of the concept into a key legal principle, particularly through judicial recognition, with the 2025 ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change representing the culmination of that process.

The launch marked an important moment for the Department of International Law as the Programme will encourage the continued study of the doctrine of Common Concern of Humankind particularly through research at postgraduate level, as well as the hosting of academic seminars, scholarly publications and other initiatives.