On Thursday, 24th April, Judge Frida Maria Armas Pfirter, a key figure in international ocean governance, visited the International Ocean Institute Headquarters in Malta. The meeting, marked by cordial exchanges, brought together IOI President Mahin Faghfouri, Treasurer Peter Leder, IOI Honorary President Awni Behnam (via a TEAMS connection) and Managing Director Antonella Vassallo. This gathering was an opportunity to discuss vital issues surrounding the rule of law in ocean governance and the needs of Latin American countries, particularly in light of their unique challenges and opportunities.
Judge Armas Pfirter, who has extensive experience in international law and ocean governance, enjoys a long standing relationship with the IOI and IOI founder Elisabeth Mann Borgese, dating from her earlier experience at the International Seabed authority in Jamaica, where they initially met. Judge Armas Pfirter has more recently supported IOI programming in the Latin American region, including as a Training Leader at the IOI Training Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean, and more recently as Director of the IOI Chile Training Programme alongside Course Coordinator Nicolás Ojeda (IOI Chile Centre Director). In this latter role, Judge Armas Pfirter further strengthened the IOI's contribution to capacity-building in Latin America, with the recent Ocean Governance Training Programme in Santiago, Chile, being a milestone for the IOI Chile Training Centre, as the first entirely Spanish-language course offered by IOI. This programme, directed by Judge Armas Pfirter, brought together participants from across South America, with a focus on critical issues related to ocean governance, sustainable economies, and regional cooperation.
The meeting was a testament to the mutual belief of the parties of the crucial role of developing capacity in sustainable ocean governance, particularly in the Latin American and Caribbean regions. The visit underscored the ongoing commitment to support and promote accessible ocean governance training in these regions.