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United Nations - Office of Legal Affairs

Codification Division
Director: Mr. Huw Llewellyn

Core Functions:

Mr. Huw Llewellyn
Director

United Nations Headquarters
Room No. DC2-0570
New York, NY 10017
Fax: (+1)(212)963-1963
Codification, Development and Promotion of International Law
Sixth Committee of the General Assembly
International Law Commission
  • Encouraging the progressive development of international law and its codification, in particular by providing substantive secretariat services and assistance (such as assistance in the conduct of proceedings, rendering of legal advice and preparation of background documentation, including preparation of draft texts of conventions and other instruments) to relevant bodies established by the General Assembly of the United Nations, including the Sixth (Legal) Committee of the General Assembly (and any working groups thereof), the International Law Commission, as well as special or ad hoc committees, or to diplomatic conferences;
  • Assisting in the precise formulation and systematization of rules of international lawby preparing analytical research papers, background studies in various fields of international law, on the basis of State practice, precedent and doctrine, as well documenting the practice and working methods of United Nations organs by being engaged in the preparation, review and coordination of studies for the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs;
  • Promoting the universal respect for international law,in particular by providing legislative (legal) bodies of the General Assembly with assistance when considering the status of relevant instruments, measures aimed at enhancing the accession of States to such instruments or, as the case may be, use by the States of procedures envisaged by the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, in order to enhance reporting by States on their obligations under the Charter and other legal instruments, or under general international law;
  • Encouraging and facilitating the teaching, study, dissemination and wider appreciation of international law, by planning and implementing the Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law, including:
    (a)   the preparation and issuance of recurrent and ad hoc legal publications (such as the United Nations Juridical Yearbook, the Summaries of Judgments, Advisory Opinions and Orders of the International Court of Justice; the Reports of International Arbitral Awards, the United Nations Legislative Series, The Work of the International Law Commission and International Instruments related to the Prevention and Suppression of International Terrorism);
    (b)   the organization of courses and seminars on various subjects of international law;
    (c)   the maintenance of websites of the Division (relating to relevant legal bodies and diplomatic conferences on various subjects of international law) and expansion of the scope of related on-line publications; and
    (d)   the development and maintenance of the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law for education, training, dissemination and research.