Report of the International Law Commission on the Work of Its 60th Session

A/RES/63/123View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 75 Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its 60th session, published in 2009.

What other versions does this mandate have?

27 versions · 1953–2025

This is an older version — the most recent is A/RES/80/164

Year	Symbol	Title	Word length	Text similarity
2025	A/RES/80/164	Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its 76th session	3,121	76%Compare
2024	A/RES/79/121	Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its 75th session	2,857	85%Compare
2023	A/RES/78/108	Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its 74th session	2,747	65%Compare
2019	A/RES/73/265	Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its 70th session	2,790	80%Compare
2017	A/RES/72/116	Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its 69th session	2,421	74%Compare

Which reports were submitted under this mandate?

2 reports · 2007–2009

Year	Symbol	Title		Mandate resolution
2009	A/64/283	Assistance to special rapporteurs of the International Law Commission report of the Secretary-General		A/RES/63/123
2007	A/62/87	Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations report of the Secretary-General		A/RES/61/34

What subjects does this mandate have?

17 subjects

Aquifers Armed Conflicts Conference and Meeting Services Coordination Within UN System Disaster Preparedness Documentation Information Exchange International Law International Law Codification Interpreting Most-Favoured-Nation Clause Reservations and Declarations Shared Natural Resources Transboundary Environmental Impact Treaties Trust Funds Websites

What’s in this document?

34 operative paragraphs

Takes note of the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its sixtieth session,1 and recommends that the Commission continue its work on the topics in its current programme, taking into account the comments and observations of Governments, whether submitted in writing or expressed orally in debates in the Sixth Committee;

Expresses its appreciation to the International Law Commission for the work accomplished at its sixtieth session, in particular for the following accomplishments:

The completion of the second reading of the draft articles on the law of transboundary aquifers under the topic “Shared natural resources”;

The completion of the first reading of the draft articles on the topic “Effects of armed conflicts on treaties”;

Draws the attention of Governments to the importance for the International Law Commission of having their views on the various aspects involved in the topics on the agenda of the Commission, in particular on all the specific issues identified in chapter III of its report,⁴ regarding:

⁴Official Records of the General Assembly, Sixty-third Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/63/10), paras. 26–33.

Reservations to treaties;

Responsibility of international organizations;

Protection of persons in the event of disasters;

Invites Governments, within the context of paragraph 3 above, to provide information to the International Law Commission regarding practice with regard to the topics “Reservations to treaties” and “Protection of persons in the event of disasters”;

Draws the attention of Governments to the importance for the International Law Commission of having their comments and observations by 1 January 2010 on the draft articles and commentaries on the topic “Effects of armed conflicts on treaties” adopted on first reading by the Commission at its sixtieth session;⁵

⁵Ibid., para. 63.

Takes note of the decision of the International Law Commission to include the topics “Treaties in time” and “The Most-Favoured-Nation clause” in its programme of work;⁶

⁶Ibid., paras. 353 and 354.

Invites the International Law Commission to continue taking measures to enhance its efficiency and productivity and to consider making proposals to that end;

Encourages the International Law Commission to continue taking cost-saving measures at its future sessions without prejudice to the efficiency of its work;

Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly, in accordance with the established procedures, and bearing in mind its resolution 56/272 of 27 March 2002, a report on the assistance currently provided to special rapporteurs and options regarding additional support of the work of special rapporteurs;

Takes note of paragraph 363 of the report of the International Law Commission, and decides that the next session of the Commission shall be held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 4 May to 5 June and from 6 July to 7 August 2009;

Welcomes the enhanced dialogue between the International Law Commission and the Sixth Committee at the sixty-third session of the General Assembly, stresses the desirability of further enhancing the dialogue between the two bodies, and in this context encourages, inter alia, the continued practice of informal consultations in the form of discussions between the members of the Sixth Committee and the members of the Commission attending the sixty-fourth session of the Assembly;

Encourages delegations, during the debate on the report of the International Law Commission, to adhere as far as possible to the structured work programme agreed to by the Sixth Committee and to consider presenting concise and focused statements;

Encourages Member States to consider being represented at the level of legal adviser during the first week in which the report of the International Law Commission is discussed in the Sixth Committee (International Law Week) to enable high-level discussions on issues of international law;

Requests the International Law Commission to continue to pay special attention to indicating in its annual report, for each topic, any specific issues on which expressions of views by Governments, either in the Sixth Committee or in written form, would be of particular interest in providing effective guidance for the Commission in its further work;

Takes note of paragraphs 336 to 340 of the report of the International Law Commission and commends the convening of the sixtieth anniversary commemorative meeting in Geneva on 19 and 20 May 2008, and also commends Member States, in association with existing regional organizations, professional associations, academic institutions and members of the Commission, that convened national or regional meetings dedicated to the work of the Commission;

Also takes note of paragraphs 355 and 356 of the report of the International Law Commission with regard to cooperation with other bodies, and encourages the Commission to continue the implementation of article 16, paragraph (e), and article 26, paragraphs 1 and 2, of its statute in order to further strengthen cooperation between the Commission and other bodies concerned with international law, having in mind the usefulness of such cooperation;

Encourages the International Law Commission to undertake consultations, if it finds it appropriate, with key humanitarian actors, including the United Nations and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in connection with work on the topic “Protection of persons in the event of disasters”;

Notes that the International Law Commission, in accordance with article 26, paragraph 1, of its statute, envisages a meeting during its sixty-first session with legal advisers of international organizations within the United Nations system, in order to hold a discussion on matters of mutual interest;

Also notes that consulting with national organizations and individual experts concerned with international law may assist Governments in considering whether to make comments and observations on drafts submitted by the International Law Commission and in formulating their comments and observations;

Reaffirms its previous decisions concerning the indispensable role of the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat in providing assistance to the International Law Commission, including in the preparation of memorandums and studies on topics on the agenda of the Commission;

Approves the conclusions reached by the International Law Commission in paragraph 359 of its report, and reaffirms its previous decisions concerning the documentation and summary records of the Commission;⁷

⁷See resolutions 32/151, para. 10, and 37/111, para. 5, and all subsequent resolutions on the annual reports of the International Law Commission to the General Assembly.

Takes note of paragraph 360 of the report of the International Law Commission and, without prejudice to the importance of ensuring necessary allocations in the regular budget, acknowledges the establishment by the Secretary-General of a trust fund to accept voluntary contributions so as to address the backlog relating to the Yearbook of the International Law Commission, and invites voluntary contributions to that end;

Welcomes the continuous efforts of the Codification Division to maintain and improve the website relating to the work of the International Law Commission;⁸

⁸www.un.org/law/ilc.

Expresses the hope that the International Law Seminar will continue to be held in connection with the sessions of the International Law Commission and that an increasing number of participants, in particular from developing countries, will be given the opportunity to attend the Seminar, and appeals to States to continue to make urgently needed voluntary contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar;

Requests the Secretary-General to provide the International Law Seminar with adequate services, including interpretation, as required, and encourages him to continue considering ways to improve the structure and content of the Seminar;

Also requests the Secretary-General to forward to the International Law Commission, for its attention, the records of the debate on the report of the Commission at the sixty-third session of the General Assembly, together with such written statements as delegations may circulate in conjunction with their oral statements, and to prepare and distribute a topical summary of the debate, following established practice;

Requests the Secretariat to circulate to States, as soon as possible after the conclusion of the session of the International Law Commission, chapter II of its report containing a summary of the work of that session, chapter III containing the specific issues on which the views of Governments would be of particular interest to the Commission and the draft articles adopted on either first or second reading by the Commission;

Encourages the International Law Commission to continue considering ways in which specific issues on which the views of Governments would be of particular interest to the Commission could be framed so as to help Governments to have a better appreciation of the issues on which responses are required;

Recommends that the debate on the report of the International Law Commission at the sixty-fourth session of the General Assembly commence on 26 October 2009.

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

What other versions does this mandate have?

Which reports were submitted under this mandate?

What subjects does this mandate have?

What’s in this document?

Table of contents