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Last update: May 11, 2022

Seventy-first Session (2019)

Daily Bulletin

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MONDAY, 29 April 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3453rd meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3453)

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  • Election of officers
    • The Commission elected Mr. Pavel Šturma (Czech Republic) as its Chair, Mr. Mahmoud D. Hmoud (Jordan) as the First Vice-Chair, Ms. Nilüfer Oral (Turkey) as Second Vice-Chair, Mr. Claudio Grossman Guiloff (Chile) as Chair of the Drafting Committee, and Mr. Charles Chernor Jalloh (Sierra Leone) as Rapporteur.
  • Programme of work
  • Crimes against humanity
    • The Special Rapporteur, Mr. Sean D. Murphy, introduced his fourth report on “Crimes against humanity” (A/CN.4/725 and Add.1). The Commission began its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s fourth report on the topic.

TUESDAY, 30 April 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3454th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3454)

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  • Crimes against humanity
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s fourth report on the topic (A/CN.4/725 and Add.1).
  • Programme, procedures, working methods of the Commission and its documentation
    • The Chair of the Drafting Committee, Mr. Claudio Grossman Guiloff, announced the composition of the Drafting Committee on “Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)” which is as follows:  Chair: Mr. Claudio Grossman Guiloff; Special Rapporteur: Mr. Dire Tladi; Members: Mr. Carlos J. Argüello Gómez, Mr. Yacouba Cissé, Ms. Patricia Galvão Teles, Mr. Juan Manuel Gómez-Robledo, Mr. Huikang Huang, Ms. Marja Lehto, Mr. Shinya Murase, Mr. Sean D. Murphy, Mr. Hong Thao Nguyen, Mr. Georg Nolte, Ms. Nilüfer Oral, Mr. Hassan Ouazzani Chahdi, Mr. Ki Gab Park, Mr. Aniruddha Rajput, Mr. August Reinisch, Mr. Juan José Ruda Santolaria, Mr. Pavel Šturma, Mr. Marcelo Vázquez-Bermúdez, Mr. Michael Wood, Mr Evgeny Zagaynov, and Mr. Charles Chernor Jalloh (ex officio).

WEDNESDAY, 1 May 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3455th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3455)

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  • Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts
    • The Commission considered the report of the Drafting Committee on “Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts” (A/CN.4/L.911), which had been taken note of at the seventieth session, and adopted Part Four and draft principles: 19 (General obligations of an Occupying Power/Obligations générales de la Puissance occupante), 20 (Sustainable use of natural resources/Utilisation durable des ressources naturelles) and 21 (Due diligence/Devoir de diligence).
  • Crimes against humanity
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s fourth report on the topic (A/CN.4/725 and Add.1).

THURSDAY, 2 May 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3456th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3456)

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  • Crimes against humanity
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s fourth report on the topic (A/CN.4/725 and Add.1).

FRIDAY, 3 May 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3457th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3457)

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  • Crimes against humanity
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s fourth report on the topic (A/CN.4/725 and Add.1).

TUESDAY, 7 May 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3458th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3458)

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  • Crimes against humanity
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s fourth report on the topic (A/CN.4/725 and Add.1). The Special Rapporteur summed up the debate of his fourth report. The Commission decided to refer the title of the draft articles, the draft preamble, draft articles 1 to 15, including draft article 13bis, and the draft annex to the Drafting Committee.
  • Programme, procedures, working methods of the Commission and its documentation
    • The Chair of the Drafting Committee, Mr. Claudio Grossman Guiloff, announced the composition of the Drafting Committee on “Crimes against humanity” which is as follows: Chair: Mr. Claudio Grossman Guiloff; Special Rapporteur: Mr. Sean D. Murphy; Members: Ms. Concepción Escobar Hernández, Ms. Patricia Galvão Teles, Mr. Mahmoud D. Hmoud, Mr. Huikang Huang, Ms. Marja Lehto, Mr. Shinya Murase, Mr. Hong Thao Nguyen, Mr. Georg Nolte, Mr. Ki Gab Park, Mr. Ernest Petrič, Mr. Aniruddha Rajput, Mr. August Reinisch, Mr. Juan José Ruda Santolaria, Mr. Gilberto Vergne Saboia, Mr. Pavel Šturma, Mr. Dire D. Tladi, Sir Michael Wood, Mr. Evgeny Zagaynov and Mr. Charles Chernor Jalloh (ex officio).

WEDNESDAY, 8 May 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3459th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3459)

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  • Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)
    • The Special Rapporteur, Mr. Dire Tladi, introduced his fourth report on the topic (A/CN.4/727). The Commission began its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s fourth report.

THURSDAY, 9 May 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3460th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3460)

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  • Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s fourth report on the topic (A/CN.4/727).

FRIDAY, 10 May 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3461st meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3461)

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  • Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s fourth report on the topic (A/CN.4/727).

TUESDAY, 14 May 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3462nd meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3462)

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  • Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s fourth report on the topic (A/CN.4/727).

WEDNESDAY, 15 May 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3463rd meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3463)

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  • Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s fourth report on the topic (A/CN.4/727).

WEDNESDAY, 15 May 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3464th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3464)

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  • Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts
    • The Special Rapporteur, Ms. Marja Lehto, introduced her second report on “Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts” (A/CN.4/728).

THURSDAY, 16 May 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3465th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3465)

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  • Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)
    • The Special Rapporteur summed up the debate. The Commission decided to refer draft conclusion 24 to the Drafting Committee.
  • Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts
    • The Commission began its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s second report on the topic (A/CN.4/728).

FRIDAY, 17 May 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3466th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3466)

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  • Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s second report on the topic (A/CN.4/728).

TUESDAY, 21 May 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3467th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3467)

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  • Programme, procedures, working methods of the Commission and its documentation
    • The Commission decided to include the topic “Sea-level rise in relation to international law” in the programme of work. It also decided to establish an open-ended Study Group on sea-level rise in relation to international law, to be co-chaired, on a rotating basis, by: Mr. Bogdan Aurescu, Mr. Yacouba Cissé, Ms. Patricia Galvão Teles, Ms. Nilüfer Oral and Mr. Juan José Ruda Santolaria.
  • Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s second report on the topic (A/CN.4/728).

WEDNESDAY, 22 May 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3468th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3468)

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  • Crimes against humanity
    • The Chair of the Drafting Committee presented the report of the Drafting Committee on “Crimes against humanity” (A/CN.4/L.935). The Commission considered the report and adopted, on second reading, the title of the draft articles (Prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity/Prévention et répression des crimes contre l’humanité), the text of the draft preamble, the texts and titles of the draft articles, and the draft annex.  The draft articles adopted are as follows: 1 (Scope/Champ d’application), 2 (Definition of crimes against humanity/Définition des crimes contre l’humanité), 3 (General obligations/Obligations générales), 4 (Obligation of prevention/Obligation de prévention), 5 (Non-refoulement/Non-refoulement), 6 (Criminalization under national law/Incrimination en droit interne), 7 (Establishment of national jurisdiction/Établissement de la compétence nationale), 8 (Investigation/Enquête), 9 (Preliminary measures when an alleged offender is present/ Mesures préliminaires lorsque l’auteur présumé de l’infraction se trouve sur le territoire), 10 (Aut dedere aut judicare/Aut dedere aut judicare), 11 (Fair treatment of the alleged offender/ Traitement équitable de l’auteur présumé de l’infraction), 12 (Victims, witnesses and others/Victimes, témoins et autres personnes), 13 (Extradition/Extradition), 14 (Mutual legal assistance/Entraide judiciaire), 15 (Settlement of disputes/Règlement des différends).
  • Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s second report on the topic (A/CN.4/728).

THURSDAY, 23 May 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3469th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3469)

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  • Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s second report on the topic (A/CN.4/728).

FRIDAY, 24 May 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3470th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3470)

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  • Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s second report on the topic (A/CN.4/728).
  • Programme, procedures, working methods of the Commission and its documentation
    • The Chair of the Planning Group, Mr. Mahmoud D. Hmoud, announced the composition of the Planning Group which is as follows: Chair: Mr. Mahmoud D. Hmoud; Members: Mr. Carlos J. Argüello Gómez, Mr. Yacouba Cissé, Ms. Concepción Escobar Hernández, Ms. Patricia Galvão Teles, Mr. Juan Manuel Gómez-Robledo, Mr. Claudio Grossman Guiloff, Mr. Hussein A. Hassouna, Mr. Huikang Huang, Mr. Ahmed Laraba, Ms. Marja Lehto, Mr. Shinya Murase, Mr. Sean D. Murphy, Mr. Hong Thao Nguyen, Ms. Nilüfer Oral, Mr. Hassan Ouazzani Chahdi, Mr. Ki Gab Park, Mr. Ernest Petrič, Mr. Aniruddha Rajput, Mr. August Reinisch, Mr. Juan José Ruda Santolaria, Mr. Gilberto Vergne Saboia, Mr. Pavel Šturma, Mr. Dire D. Tladi, Mr. Marcelo Vázquez-Bermúdez, Sir Michael Wood, Mr. Evgeny Zagaynov and Mr. Charles Chernor Jalloh (ex officio).

MONDAY, 27 May 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3471st meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3471)

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  • Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts
    • The Special Rapporteur, Ms. Marja Lehto, summed up the debate on her second report on protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts  (A/CN.4/728).  The Commission decided to refer draft principles 6 bis, 8 bis, 13 bis, 13 ter, 13 quater, 13 quinques and 14 bis, to the Drafting Committee.
  • Programme, procedures, working methods of the Commission and its documentation
    • The Chair of the Drafting Committee, Mr. Claudio Grossman Guiloff, announced the composition of the Drafting Committee on “Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts” which is as follows:  Chair: Mr. Claudio Grossman Guiloff; Special Rapporteur: Ms. Marja Lehto; Members: Ms. Concepción Escobar Hernández, Ms. Patricia Galvão Teles, Mr. Mahmoud D. Hmoud, Mr. Huikang Huang, Mr. Shinya Murase, Mr. Sean D. Murphy, Mr. Hong Thao Nguyen, Mr. Georg Nolte, Ms. Nilüfer Oral, Mr. Ki Gab Park, Mr. Aniruddha Rajput, Mr. Juan José Ruda Santolaria, Mr. Dire D. Tladi, Mr. Marcelo Vázquez-Bermùdez, Sir Michael Wood and Mr. Charles Chernor Jalloh (ex officio).

FRIDAY, 31 May 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3472nd meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3472)

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  • Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)
    • The Chair of the Drafting Committee presented the report of the Drafting Committee on “Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)” (A/CN.4/L.936). The Commission considered the report and adopted, on first reading, the text of the draft conclusions and draft annex as follows: 1 (Scope/Objet), 2 [3(1)] (Definition of a peremptory norm of general international law (jus cogens)/Définition d’une norme impérative du droit international général (jus cogens)), 3 [3(2)] (General nature of peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)/Nature générale des normes impératives du droit international général (jus cogens)), 4 (Criteria for the identification of a peremptory norm of general international law (jus cogens)/Critères pour la détermination d’une norme impérative du droit international général (jus cogens)), 5 (Bases for peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)/Fondements des normes impératives du droit international général (jus cogens)), 6 [6, 8] (Acceptance and recognition/Acceptation et reconnaissance), 7 (International community of States as a whole/Communauté internationale des États dans son ensemble), 8 [9(1)(2)] (Evidence of acceptance and recognition/Preuve de l’acceptation et de la reconnaissance), 9 [9(3)(4)] (Subsidiary means for the determination of the peremptory character of norms of general international law (jus cogens)/Moyens auxiliaires de détermination des normes du droit international général (jus cogens)), 10 [10(1)(2)] (Treaties conflicting with a peremptory norm of general international law (jus cogens)/Traités en conflit avec une norme impérative du droit international général (jus cogens)), 11 (Separability of treaty provisions conflicting with a peremptory norm of general international law (jus cogens)/ Divisibilité des dispositions d’un traité en conflit avec une norme impérative du droit international général (jus cogens)), 12 (Consequences of the invalidity and termination of treaties conflicting with a peremptory norm of general international law (jus cogens)/ Conséquences de la nullité et de l’extinction des traités en conflit avec une norme impérative du droit international général (jus cogens)), 13 (Absence of effect of reservations to treaties on peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)/Absence d’effet des réserves aux traités sur les normes impératives du droit international général (jus cogens)), 14 [15] (Rules of customary international law conflicting with a peremptory norm of general international law (jus cogens)/Règles de droit international coutumier en conflit avec une norme impérative du droit international général (jus cogens)), 15 [16] (Obligations created by unilateral acts of States conflicting with a peremptory norm of general international law (jus cogens)/Obligations créées par des actes unilatéraux des États en conflit avec une norme impérative du droit international général (jus cogens)), 16 [17(1)]  (Obligations created by resolutions, decisions or other acts of international organizations conflicting with a peremptory norm of general international law (jus cogens)/Obligations créées par des résolutions, décisions ou autres actes des organisations internationales en conflit avec une norme impérative du droit international général (jus cogens)), 17 [18] (Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens) as obligations owed to the international community as a whole (obligations erga omnes)/Normes impératives du droit international général (jus cogens) en tant qu’obligations à l’égard de la communauté internationale dans sans ensemble (obligations erga omnes)), 18 [19(1)] (Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens) and circumstances precluding wrongfulness/Normes impératives du droit international général (jus cogens) et circonstances excluant l’illicéité), 19 [20(1)(2), 21] Particular consequences of serious breaches of peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)/Conséquences particulières des violations graves des normes impératives du droit international général (jus cogens)), 20 [10(3), 17(2)] (Interpretation and application consistent with peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)/Interprétation et application conformes aux normes impératives de droit international général (jus cogens)), 21 [14] (Procedural requirements/ Obligations procédurales), 22 [22, 23] (Without prejudice to consequences that specific peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens) may otherwise entail/Sans préjudice des conséquences que des normes impératives spécifiques du droit international général (jus cogens) peuvent autrement entraîner en droit international), 23 [24] (Non-exhaustive list/Liste non exhaustive).
  • Cooperation with other bodies
    • The Chair of the Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law (CAHDI), Mr. Petr Válek, and the Head of the Council of Europe’s Public International Law Division and Secretary to the Council of Europe Committee of Legal Advisers of Public International Law (CAHDI), Ms. Marta Requena, addressed the Commission. An exchange of views followed.

TUESDAY, 4 June 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3473rd meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3473)

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  • Video conference with the Legal Counsel
    • The United Nations Legal Counsel, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, made a statement by video conference informing the Commission of the activities of the Office of Legal Affairs and recent developments of international law in the context of the United Nations. An exchange of views followed.

FRIDAY, 7 June 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3474th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3474)

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  • Organization of work
    • The Commission adopted the programme of work for the second part of the session.

MONDAY, 8 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3475th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3475)

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  • Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts
    • The Chair of the Drafting Committee presented the report of the Drafting Committee on “Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts” (A/CN.4/L.937). The Commission considered the report and adopted, on first reading, the text of the draft principles as follows: 1 (Scope/Champ d’application), 2 (Purpose/ Objet), 3 [4] (Measures to enhance the protection of the environment/ Mesures visant à améliorer la protection de l’environnement), 4 [I-(x), 5] (Designation of protected zones/ Déclaration de zones protégées), 5 [6] (Protection of the environment of indigenous peoples/ Protection de l’environnement des peuples autochtones), 6 [7] (Agreements concerning the presence of military forces in relation to armed conflict/ Accords relatifs à la présence de forces militaires en rapport avec des conflits armés), 7 [8] (Peace operations/ Opérations de paix), 8 (Human displacement/ Déplacements de population), 9 (State responsibility/ Responsabilité des États), 10 (Corporate due diligence/ Devoir de diligence des sociétés), 11 (Corporate liability/ Responsabilité des sociétés), 12 (Martens Clause with respect to the protection of the environment in relation to armed conflict/ Clause de Martens en matière de protection de l’environnement en rapport avec un conflit armé), 13 [II-1, 9] (General protection of the natural environment during armed conflict/ Protection générale de l’environnement naturel pendant un conflit armé), 14 [II-2, 10] (Application of the law of armed conflict to the natural environment/ Application du droit des conflits armés à l’environnement naturel), 15 [II-3, 11] (Environmental considerations/ Considérations environnementales), 16 [II-4, 12] (Prohibition of reprisals/ Interdiction des représailles), 17 [II-5, 13] (Protected zones/ Zones protégées), 18 (Prohibition of pillage/ Interdiction du pillage), 19 (Environmental modification techniques/ Techniques de modification de l’environnement), 20 [19] (General obligations of an Occupying Power/ Obligations générales de la Puissance occupante), 21 [20] (Sustainable use of natural resources/ Utilisation durable des ressources naturelles), 22 [21] (Due diligence/ Devoir de diligence), 23 [14] (Peace processes/ Processus de paix), 24 [18] (Sharing and granting access to information/ Échange et mise à disposition d’informations), 25 [15] (Post-armed conflict environmental assessments and remedial measures/ Évaluations de l’environnement et mesures de remise en état après un conflit armé), 26 (Relief and assistance/ Réparation et assistance), 27 [16] (Remnants of war/ Restes de guerre), 28 [17] (Remnants of war at sea/ Restes de guerre immergés en mer).
  • Succession of States in respect of State responsibility
    • The Special Rapporteur, Mr. Pavel Šturma, introduced his third report on the topic (A/CN.4/731). The Commission began its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s third report.

TUESDAY, 9 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3476th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3476)

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  • Succession of States in respect of State responsibility
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s third report on the topic (A/CN.4/731).
  • Programme, procedures, working methods of the Commission and its documentation
    • The Chair of the Drafting Committee, Mr. Claudio Grossman Guiloff, announced the composition of the Drafting Committee on “Succession of States in respect of  State responsibility” which is as follows:  Chair: Mr. Claudio Grossman Guiloff; Special Rapporteur: Mr. Pavel Šturma; Members: Mr. Bogdan Aurescu, Mr. Huikang Huang, Mr. Sean D. Murphy,  Mr. Hong Thao Nguyen, Mr. Georg Nolte, Ms. Nilüfer Oral, Mr. Ki Gab Park, Mr. August Reinisch, Mr. Juan José Ruda Santolaria, Mr. Evgeny Zagaynov and Mr. Charles Chernor Jalloh (ex officio).

WEDNESDAY, 10 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3477th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3477)

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  • Succession of States in respect of State responsibility
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s third report on the topic (A/CN.4/731).
  • Cooperation with other bodies
    • The President of the Inter-American Juridical Committee, Ms. Ruth Correa Palacio, addressed the Commission. An exchange of views followed.

THURSDAY, 11 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3478th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3478)

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  • Visit of the President of the International Court of Justice
    • The President of the International Court of Justice, Judge Abdulqawi A. Yusuf, addressed the Commission.  An exchange of views followed.
  • Succession of States in respect of State responsibility
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s third report on the topic (A/CN.4/731).

FRIDAY, 12 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3479th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3479)

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  • Succession of States in respect of State responsibility
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s third report on the topic (A/CN.4/731).

MONDAY, 15 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3480th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3480)

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  • Succession of States in respect of State responsibility
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s third report on the topic (A/CN.4/731). The Special Rapporteur summed up the debate. The Commission decided to refer draft articles 2, paragraph (f), X, Y, 12, 13, 14 and 15, as well as the titles of Part II and Part III, as contained in the third report of the Special Rapporteur, to the Drafting Committee.
  • Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction
    • The Special Rapporteur, Ms. Concepción Escobar-Hernández, introduced her seventh report on the topic (A/CN.4/729). The Commission began its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s sixth and seventh reports.
  • Sea-level rise in relation to international law
    • The Co-Chairs of the Study Group, Ms. Patrícia Galvão Teles and Ms. Nilüfer Oral, presented the oral report of the Study Group on the topic.

TUESDAY, 16 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3481st meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3481)

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  • Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s sixth and seventh reports on the topic (A/CN.4/722 and A/CN.4/729).

TUESDAY, 16 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3482nd meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3482)

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  • Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s sixth and seventh reports on the topic (A/CN.4/722 and A/CN.4/729).

WEDNESDAY, 17 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3483rd meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3483)

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  • Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s sixth and seventh reports on the topic (A/CN.4/722 and A/CN.4/729).

WEDNESDAY, 17 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3484th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3484)

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  • Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s sixth and seventh reports on the topic (A/CN.4/722 and A/CN.4/729).

THURSDAY, 18 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3485th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3485)

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  • Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s sixth and seventh reports on the topic (A/CN.4/722 and A/CN.4/729).
  • Cooperation with other bodies
    • The Secretary-General of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization, Mr. Kennedy Gastorn, addressed the Commission. An exchange of views followed.

FRIDAY, 19 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3486th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3486)

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  • Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s sixth and seventh reports on the topic (A/CN.4/722 and A/CN.4/729).
  • Cooperation with other bodies
    • The representatives of the African Union Commission on International Law, Commissioner Kathleen Quartey Ayensu and Commissioner Sindiso H. Sichone addressed the Commission. An exchange of views followed.

MONDAY, 22 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3487th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3487)

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  • Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s sixth and seventh reports on the topic (A/CN.4/722 and A/CN.4/729).

TUESDAY, 23 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3488th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3488)

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  • Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s sixth and seventh reports on the topic (A/CN.4/722 and A/CN.4/729). The Special Rapporteur summed up the debate. The Commission decided to refer draft articles 8 to 16, taking into account the views expressed in the plenary debate and the proposals made, to the Drafting Committee.
  • General principles of law
    • The Special Rapporteur, Mr. Marcelo Vázquez-Bermúdez, introduced his first report on the topic (A/CN.4/732).
  • Programme, procedures, working methods of the Commission and its documentation
    • The Chair of the Drafting Committee, Mr. Claudio Grossman Guiloff, announced the composition of the Drafting Committee on “Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction” which is as follows:  Chair: Mr. Claudio Grossman Guiloff; Special Rapporteur: Ms. Concepción Escobar Hernández; Members: Mr. Carlos J. Argüello Gómez, Mr. Bogdan Aurescu, Mr. Yacouba Cissé, Ms. Patricia Galvão Teles, Mr. Juan Manuel Gómez-Robledo, Mr. Mahmoud D. Hmoud, Mr. Huikang Huang, Ms. Marja Lehto, Mr. Shinya Murase, Mr. Sean D. Murphy, Mr. Georg Nolte, Ms. Nilüfer Oral, Mr. Ki Gab Park, Mr. Aniruddha Rajput, Mr. August Reinisch, Mr. Juan José Ruda Santolaria, Mr. Gilberto Vergne Saboia, Mr. Dire D. Tladi, Mr. Marcelo Vázquez-Bermúdez, Sir Michael Wood, Mr. Evgeny Zagaynov and Mr. Charles Chernor Jalloh (ex officio).

WEDNESDAY, 24 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3489th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3489)

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  • Succession of States in respect of State responsibility
    • The Commission considered the report of the Drafting Committee (A/CN.4/L.939) and adopted the text of the draft articles as follows: 1 (Scope/ Champ d’application), 2 (Use of terms/Expressions employées), 5 (Cases of succession of States covered by the present draft articles/Cas de succession visés par le présent projet d’articles).
  • General principles of law
    • The Commission began its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s first report on the topic (A/CN.4/732).

THURSDAY, 25 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3490th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3490)

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  • General principles of law
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s first report on the topic (A/CN.4/732).

FRIDAY, 26 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3491st meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3491)

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  • General principles of law
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s first report on the topic (A/CN.4/732).

MONDAY, 29 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3492nd meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3492)

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  • General principles of law
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s first report on the topic (A/CN.4/732).

MONDAY, 29 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3493rd meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3493)

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  • General principles of law
    • The Commission continued its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s first report on the topic (A/CN.4/732).

TUESDAY, 30 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3494th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3494)

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  • General principles of law
    • The Special Rapporteur summed up the debate of his first report on the topic (A/CN.4/732). The Commission decided to refer draft conclusions 1, 2 and 3 to the Drafting Committee taking into account the comments and proposals made during the debate.
  • Programme, procedures, working methods of the Commission and its documentation
    • The Chair of the Drafting Committee, Mr. Claudio Grossman Guiloff, announced the composition of the Drafting Committee on “General principals of law” which is as follows: Chair: Mr. Claudio Grossman Guiloff; Special Rapporteur: Mr. Marcelo Vázquez-Bermúdez; Members: Mr. Carlos J. Argüello Gómez, Ms. Patricia Galvão Teles, Mr. Juan Manuel Gómez-Robledo, Mr. Mahmoud D. Hmoud, Mr. Huikang Huang, Ms. Marja Lehto, Mr. Shinya Murase, Mr. Sean D. Murphy, Mr. Hong Thao Nguyen, Mr. Georg Nolte, Ms. Nilüfer Oral, Mr. Ki Gab Park, Mr. August Reinisch, Mr. Juan José Ruda Santolaria, Mr. Dire D. Tladi, Sir Michael Wood, Mr. Evgeny Zagaynov and Mr. Charles Chernor Jalloh (ex officio).

WEDNESDAY, 31 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3495th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3495)

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  • Succession of States in respect of State responsibility
    • The Chair of the Drafting Committee presented the interim report of the Drafting Committee on “Succession of States in respect of State responsibility” for information. The Commission took note of the interim report (A/CN.4/L.939/Add.1).
  • Provisional application of treaties
    • The Special Rapporteur presented the oral report on “Provisional application of treaties” on the informal consultations on the draft model clauses. The Commission took note of the oral report.

WEDNESDAY, 31 July 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3496th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3496)

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  • Crimes against humanity
    • The Commission began consideration of Chapter IV on “Crimes against humanity” and adopted sections A, B and part of section E including the general commentary of the title of the draft articles and the commentary to the text of the draft preamble and to draft article 1 (Scope/Champ d’application), and part of 2 (Definition of crimes against humanity/Définition des crimes contre l’humanité) (A/CN.4/L.928 and Add.1), as amended.

FRIDAY, 2 August 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3497th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3497)

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  • Crimes against humanity
    • The Commission continued consideration of Chapter IV on “Crimes against humanity” and adopted a further part of section E including the commentary to draft articles 2 (Definition of crimes against humanity/Définition des crimes contre l’humanité), 3 (General obligations/Obligations générales), 4 (Obligation of prevention/Obligation de prévention) and 5 (Non-refoulement/Non-refoulement (A/CN.4/L.928 and Add.1), as amended.

FRIDAY, 2 August 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3498th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3498)

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  • Crimes against humanity
    • The Commission continued consideration of Chapter IV on “Crimes against humanity” and adopted the remaining part of section E including the commentary to draft articles 6 (Criminalization under national law/Incrimination en droit interne), 7 (Establishment of national jurisdiction/Établissement de la compétence nationale), 8 (Investigation/Enquête), 9 (Preliminary measures when an alleged offender is present/ Mesures préliminaires lorsque l’auteur présumé de l’infraction se trouve sur le territoire), 10 (Aut dedere aut judicare/Aut dedere aut judicare), 11 (Fair treatment of the alleged offender/ Traitement équitable de l’auteur présumé de l’infraction), 12 (Victims, witnesses and others/Victimes, témoins et autres personnes), 13 (Extradition/Extradition), 14 (Mutual legal assistance/Entraide judiciaire), 15 (Settlement of disputes/Règlement des différends) and the annex (A/CN.4/L.928 and Add.1), as amended.

MONDAY, 5 August 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3499th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3499)

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  • Crimes against humanity
    • The Commission continued consideration of Chapter IV on “Crimes against humanity” and adopted the remaining sections C and D (A/CN.4/L.928 and A/CN.4/L.928/Add.1), as amended.
  • Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)
    • The Commission began consideration of Chapter V on “Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)”, and adopted sections A, B and part of section C including the commentary to draft conclusions 1 (Scope/Objet) and 2 [3(1)] (Definition of a peremptory norm of general international law (jus cogens)/Définition d’une norme impérative du droit international général (jus cogens)) (A/CN.4/L.929, Add.1 and Add.2), as amended.

MONDAY, 5 August 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3500th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3500)

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  • Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)
    • The Commission continued consideration of Chapter V on “Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)”, and adopted a further part of section C including the commentary to draft conclusion 3 [3(2)] (General nature of peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)/Nature générale des normes impératives du droit international général (jus cogens)) (A/CN.4/L.929, Add.1 and Add.2), as amended.

TUESDAY, 6 August 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3501st meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3501)

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  • Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction
    • The Chair of the Drafting Committee presented the interim oral report of the Drafting Committee on “Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction” (A/CN.4/L.940).  The Commission took note of the interim oral report.
  • Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)
    • The Commission continued consideration of Chapter V on “Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)” and adopted a further part of section C including the commentary to draft conclusions 4 (Criteria for the identification of a peremptory norm of general international law (jus cogens)/Critères pour la détermination d’une norme impérative du droit international général (jus cogens)), 5 (Bases for peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)/Fondements des normes impératives du droit international général (jus cogens)), 6 [6, 8] (Acceptance and recognition/Acceptation et reconnaissance), 7 (International community of States as a whole/Communauté internationale des États dans son ensemble), 8 [9(1)(2)] (Evidence of acceptance and recognition/Preuve de l’acceptation et de la reconnaissance) and 9 [9 (3)(4)] (Subsidiary means for the determination of the peremptory character of norms of general international law (jus cogens)/Moyens auxiliaires de détermination des normes du droit international général(jus cogens)) (A/CN.4/L.929, Add.1 and Add.2), as amended.

TUESDAY, 6 August 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3502nd meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3502)

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  • Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)
    • The Commission continued consideration of Chapter V on “Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)” and adopted a further part of section C including the commentary to draft conclusions 10 [10(1)(2)] (Treaties conflicting with a peremptory norm of general international law (jus cogens)/Traités en conflit avec une norme impérative du droit international général (jus cogens)), 11 (Separability of treaty provisions conflicting with a peremptory norm of general international law (jus cogens)/Divisibilité des dispositions d’un traité en conflit avec une norme impérative du droit international général (jus cogens)), 12 (Consequences of the invalidity and termination of treaties conflicting with a peremptory norm of general international law (jus cogens)/Conséquences de la nullité et de l’extinction des traités en conflit avec une norme impérative du droit international général (jus cogens)), 13 (Absence of effect of reservations to treaties on peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)/Absence d’effet des réserves aux traités sur les normes impératives du droit international général (jus cogens)) and 21 [14] (Procedural requirements/Obligations procédurales (A/CN.4/L.929, Add.1 and Add.2), as amended.

WEDNESDAY, 7 August 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3503rd meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3503)

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  • General principles of law
    • The Chair of the Drafting Committee presented the interim report of the Drafting Committee on “General principles of law”. The Commission took note of the interim oral report.
  • Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)
    • The Commission continued consideration of Chapter V on “Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)” and adopted a further part of section C including the commentary to draft conclusions 14 [15] (Rules of customary international law conflicting with a peremptory norm of general international law (jus cogens)/Règles de droit international coutumier en conflit avec une norme impérative du droit international général (jus cogens)), 15 [16] (Obligations created by unilateral acts of States conflicting with a peremptory norm of general international law (jus cogens)/Obligations créées par des actes unilatéraux des États en conflit avec une norme impérative du droit international général (jus cogens)), 16 [17(1)] (Obligations created by resolutions, decisions or other acts of international organizations conflicting with a peremptory norm of general international law (jus cogens)/Obligations créées par des résolutions, décisions ou autres actes des organisations internationales en conflit avec une norme impérative du droit international général (jus cogens)), 17 [18] (Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens) as obligations owed to the international community as a whole (obligations erga omnes)/Normes impératives du droit international général (jus cogens) en tant qu’obligations à l’égard de la communauté internationale dans sans ensemble (obligations erga omnes)) and 18 [19(1)] (Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens) and circumstances precluding wrongfulness/Normes impératives du droit international général (jus cogens) et circonstances excluant l’illicéité (A/CN.4/L.929, Add.1 and Add.2), as amended.

WEDNESDAY, 7 August 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3504th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3504)

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  • Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)
    • The Commission continued consideration of Chapter V on “Peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)” and adopted the remaining part of section C including the commentary to draft conclusions 19 [20(1)(2), 21] (Particular consequences of serious breaches of peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)/Conséquences particulières des violations graves des normes impératives du droit international général (jus cogens)), 20 [10(3), 17(2)] (Interpretation and application consistent with peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)/Interprétation et application conformes aux normes impératives de droit international général (jus cogens)), 22 [22, 23] (Without prejudice to consequences that specific peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens) may otherwise entail/Sans préjudice des conséquences que des normes impératives spécifiques du droit international général (jus cogens) peuvent autrement entraîner en droit international) and 23 [24] (Non-exhaustive list/Liste non exhaustive) (A/CN.4/L.929, Add.1 and Add.2), as amended.
  • Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts
    • The Commission began consideration of Chapter VI on “Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts” and adopted sections A and B (A/CN.4/L.930 and Add.1), as amended.

THURSDAY, 8 August 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3505th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3505)

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  • Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts
    • The Commission continued consideration of Chapter VI on “Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts” and adopted part of section C including the general commentary and the commentary to draft principles 1 (Scope/Champ d’application), 2 (Purpose/Objet), 3 [4] (Measures to enhance the protection of the environment/Mesures visant à améliorer la protection de l’environnement), 4 [I-(x), 5] (Designation of protected zones/Déclaration de zones protégées), 5 [6] (Protection of the environment of indigenous peoples/Protection de l’environnement des peuples autochtones), 6 [7] (Agreements concerning the presence of military forces in relation to armed conflict/Accords relatifs à la présence de forces militaires en rapport avec des conflits armés), Draft principle 7 [8] (Peace operations/Opérations de paix), 8 (Human displacement/Déplacements de population), 9 (State responsibility/Responsabilité des États), 10 (Corporate due diligence/Devoir de diligence des sociétés), 11 (Corporate liability/Responsabilité des sociétés), 12 (Martens Clause with respect to the protection of the environment in relation to armed conflict/Clause de Martens en matière de protection de l’environnement en rapport avec un conflit armé), 13 [II-1, 9] (General protection of the natural environment during armed conflict/Protection générale de l’environnement naturel pendant un conflit armé), 14 [II-2, 10] (Application of the law of armed conflict to the natural environment/Application du droit des conflits armés à l’environnement naturel) and 15 [II-3, 11] (Environmental considerations/Considérations environnementales) (A/CN.4/L.930 and A/CN.4/L.930/Add.1), as amended.

THURSDAY, 8 August 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3506th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3506)

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  • Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts
    • The Commission continued consideration of Chapter VI on “Protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts” and adopted the remaining part of section C including the commentary to draft principles 16 [II-4, 12] (Prohibition of reprisals/Interdiction des représailles), 17 [II-5, 13] (Protected zones/Zones protégées), 18 (Prohibition of pillage/Interdiction du pillage), 19 (Environmental modification techniques/ Techniques de modification de l’environnement), 20 [19] (General obligations of an Occupying Power/Obligations générales de la Puissance occupante), 21 [20] (Sustainable use of natural resources/Utilisation durable des ressources naturelles), 22 [21] (Due diligence/Devoir de diligence), 23 [14] (Peace processes/Processus de paix), 24 [18] (Sharing and granting access to information/Échange et mise à disposition d’informations), 25 [15] (Post-armed conflict environmental assessments and remedial measures/Évaluations de l’environnement et mesures de remise en état après un conflit armé), 26 (Relief and assistance/Réparation et assistance) and 27 [16] (Remnants of war/Restes de guerre), 28 [17] (Remnants of war at sea/Restes de guerre immergés en mer) (A/CN.4/L.930 and A/CN.4/L.930/Add.1), as amended.
  • Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction
    • The Commission began consideration of Chapter VIII on “Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction” and adopted section A and part of section B (A/CN.4/L.932), as amended.

FRIDAY, 9 August 2019
Seventy-first session
United Nations Office at Geneva
3507th meeting (A/CN.4/SR.3507)

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  • Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction
    • The Commission continued consideration of Chapter VIII on “Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction” and adopted the remaining part of section B (A/CN.4/L.932), as amended.
  • Other decisions and conclusions of the Commission
    • The Commission adopted Chapter XI on “Other decisions and conclusions of the Commission” (A/CN.4/L.934 and A/CN.4/L.934/Add.1), as amended.
  • Succession of States in respect of State responsibility
    • The Commission adopted Chapter VII on the topic “Succession of States in respect of State responsibility” including the commentary to draft articles 1 (Scope/Champ d’application), 2 (Use of terms/Expressions employées) and 5 (Cases of succession of States covered by the present draft articles/Cas de succession d’États visés par le present projet d’articles) (A/CN.4/L.931 and A/CN.4/L.931/Add.1), as amended.
  • General principles of law
    • The Commission adopted Chapter IX on “General principles of law” (A/CN.4/L.933), as amended.
  • Sea-level rise in relation to international law
    • The Commission adopted Chapter X on “Sea-level rise in relation to international law” (A/CN.4/L.938), as amended.
  • Introduction
    • The Commission adopted Chapter I on “Introduction” (A/CN.4/L.925), as amended.
  • Summary of the work of the Commission at its seventy-first session
    • The Commission adopted Chapter II on “Summary of the work of the Commission at its seventy-first session” (A/CN.4/L.926), as amended.
  • Specific issues on which comments would be of particular interest to the Commission
    • The Commission adopted Chapter III on “Specific issues on which comments would be of particular interest to the Commission” (A/CN.4/L.927), as amended.
  • Adoption of the report
    • The Commission adopted its report of the seventy-first session as a whole and thus concluded its work for that session.