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.

RSS feed

Recent Developments

Immunity of State officials

20 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.

Provisional application of treaties

4 May 2021 The Special Rapporteur, Mr. Juan-Manuel Gómez-Robledo, began to introduce his sixth report on the topic (A/CN.4/738).

Protection of the atmosphere

4 May 2021 The Special Rapporteur summed up the debate of his sixth report on the topic (A/CN.4/736). The Commission decided to refer the text of the guidelines with the preamble on “Protection of the atmosphere” to the Drafting Committee.

Filling of casual vacancy

29 April 2021 The Commission elected Mr. Mathias Forteau (France) to fill the casual vacancy which arose following the resignation of Mr. Georg Nolte.

Protection of the atmosphere

26 April 2021 The Special Rapporteur, Mr. Shinya Murase, introduced his sixth report on the topic (A/CN.4/736). The Commission began its consideration of the report.

72nd Session of the ILC

26 April 2021 The International Law Commission opened its seventy-second session, to be held in hybrid format from 26 April to 4 June, 5 July to 6 August 2021.

72nd Session of the ILC

3 February 2021 The provisional agenda for the seventy-second session of the ILC has been issued (A/CN.4/733/Rev.1).

Filling of casual vacancy

25 January 2021 A casual vacancy on the ILC has arisen following the resignation of Mr. Georg Nolte (further to his election to the International Court of Justice). [see also Add.1]

Election of the ILC

27 October 2020 The nomination period for the election of the ILC has opened (deadline: 1 June 2021).

70 years of ILC

27 October 2020 Seventy Years of the International Law Commission: Drawing a Balance for the Future, United Nations (ed.) (published by Brill) – now available.

Informal meeting

3 September 2020 Members of the ILC held an informal meeting on 3 September 2020, at which time statements were made in memory of Alexander Yankov.

2020 Session of the ILC -- postponed

12 August 2020 Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, the General Assembly adopted decision 74/566 by which it, inter alia, decided to hold the seventy-second session of the Commission in 2021, and decided that the terms of office of the current members should be extended by one year (until 31 December 2022).

General principles of law

26 June 2020 Second report on general principles of law by Marcelo Vázquez-Bermúdez, Special Rapporteur, has been issued (A/CN.4/741).

2020 Session of the ILC -- postponed

23 June 2020 Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, the General Assembly, on 23 June 2020, decided that the seventy-second session of the ILC will be postponed.