Editor’s note: This article is from Babbitt , 36氪 reprinted with permission.
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is working with the Dutch government’s blockchain pilot project to explore how distributed ledger technology can be widely used within the legal context of the United Nations system and external entities.
Thirteen authors will work towards the results of this collaboration, which will be published this summer. In mid-September this year, a launch event for the research results will likely be held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Yoshiyuki Yamamoto, Special Adviser on Blockchain Technology at UNOPS, said: “ This research is published with the hope of being a catalyst for discussions on the legal implications of blockchain. We need to make efforts not only in humanitarian and development work but also in Under the existing regulatory framework, there is a broad focus on data and identity.”
Koen Hartog, project manager for the Dutch government’s blockchain pilot project, added, “Only by clearly understanding the legal implications can blockchains reach their full potential.”
UNOPS, as an operational agency responsible for implementing United Nations system initiatives, works with global partners to help the United Nations achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Although the United Nations Office for Project Services has made some explorations of distributed ledger technology, such as the use of blockchain to solve pressing humanitarian problems. But the partnership between UNOPS and the Dutch government's blockchain pilot project will uncover and seek more examples of legal applications for officials working in public administration and international organizations.
Hartog said: “ Dutch legal/blockchain experts who will contribute to our research have done a lot of work in this area, they have done research on smart contracts, and to some extent smart contracts can Is a legal contract. Their findings show that in some cases, code is law, but not in all cases. A deeper understanding of what blockchain means in legal terms, and engaging legal experts into a blockchain project, it is crucial for the further development of the ecosystem.”
Many UN agencies, including UN Women and the World Food Programme, are actively pursuing opportunities to use blockchain technology in their projects.