International Law Commission International Law Commission

International Law Commission, July 2018. Photo: Antoine Tardy.
International Law Commission, July 2018.
The International Law Commission was established by the General Assembly, in 1947, to undertake the mandate of the Assembly, under article 13 (1) (a) of the Charter of the United Nations to "initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose of ... encouraging the progressive development of international law and its codification".

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, the General Assembly, on 12 August 2020, decided to postpone the seventy-second session of the ILC to 2021. Subsequently, the General Assembly, in resolution 75/135 of 15 December 2020, decided that the International Law Commission will hold its seventy-second session at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 26 April to 4 June and from 5 July to 6 August 2021 (11 weeks).

#ILC_2021

Latest publications: 70 years of the International Law Commission

70 years of the International Law Commission — Drawing a balance for the future 70 years of the International Law Commission — Drawing a balance for the future
  • Seventy Years of the International Law Commission photo exhibit, prepared by the Codification Division, accompanying the events marking the seventieth anniversary of the ILC in New York and Geneva. The exhibit was subsequently also displayed in The Hague, Bangkok and Washington, D.C., during 2018 and 2019.

Current programme of work

The following topics are on the programme of work of the Commission:

* Not scheduled to be considered at the seventy-second session in 2021.

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Recent Developments

Election of the members of the ILC

16 June 2021 Note by the Secretary-General concerning the nominations received for the election of the ILC, has been issued (A/76/82).

72nd Session of the ILC

4 June 2021 The Commission concluded the first part of its seventy-second session. The second part will be held from 5 July to 6 August 2021.

Immunity of State officials

3 June 2021 The Chair of the Drafting Committee presented the report of the Drafting Committee on the topic (A/CN.4/L.953). The Commission first considered the Report of the Drafting Committee (A/CN.4/L.940) which has been taken note of at the 71st session, and adopted draft article 8 ante. Thereafter, the Commission considered the report of the Drafting Committee of this year and adopted the texts and titles of the draft articles 8 to 11.

Provisional Application of Treaties

3 June 2021 The Chair of the Drafting Committee presented the report of the Drafting Committee on the topic (A/CN.4/L.952). The Commission took note of the report.

Immunity of State officials

2 June 2021 The document containing texts and titles of draft articles 8, 9, 10 and 11 provisionally adopted by the Drafting Committee, has been issued (A/CN.4/L.953).

Provisional application of treaties

1 June 2021 The document containing texts and titles of the draft guidelines 1 to 12 adopted by the Drafting Committee on second reading during the first part of the session, has been issued (A/CN.4/L.952).

Protection of the atmosphere

27 May 2021 The Chair of the Drafting Committee presented the report of the Drafting Committee on the topic (A/CN.4/L.951).  The Commission considered the report and adopted the preamble and the draft guidelines 1 to 12 on second reading.

Succession of States & responsibility

21 May 2021 The Commission considered the Report of the Drafting Committee on the topic (A/CN.4/L.939/Add.1) which had been taken note of at the 71st session, and adopted draft articles 7 to 9.

Immunity of State officials

21 May 2021 The Special Rapporteur, Ms. Concepción Escobar Hernández, summed up the debate of her eighth report on the topic (A/CN.4/739). The Commission decided to refer draft articles 17 and 18 to the Drafting Committee.

Protection of the atmosphere

19 May 2021 The document containing texts and titles of the draft guidelines and preamble adopted by the Drafting Committee on second reading, has been issued (A/CN.4/L.951).

Provisional application of treaties

14 May 2021 The Special Rapporteur, Mr. Juan Manuel Gómez-Robledo, summed up the debate of his sixth report on the topic (A/CN.4/738). The Commission decided to refer the text of the draft guidelines on “Provisional application of treaties” together with the draft model clauses to the Drafting Committee.

Immunity of State officials

12 May 2021 The Special Rapporteur, Ms. Concepción Escobar Hernández, introduced her eighth report on the topic (A/CN.4/739). The Commission began its consideration of the report.

Provisional application of treaties

5 May 2021 The Special Rapporteur, Mr. Juan-Manuel Gómez-Robledo, continued and concluded the introduction of his sixth report on the topic (A/CN.4/738). The Commission began its consideration of the report.