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".

In accordance with resolution  76/111 of 9 December 2021, the International Law Commission will hold its seventy-third session at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 18 April to 3 June and from 4 July to 5 August 2022 (12 weeks).

#ILC_2022

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:

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Recent Developments

Immunity of State officials

3 June 2022 The Chair of the Drafting Committee presented the report of the Drafting Committee on the topic (A/CN.4/L.969). The Commission considered the report and adopted the texts and titles of the draft articles 1 to 18 on first reading [as amended].

Immunity of State officials

2 June 2022 The document containing texts and titles of the draft articles adopted by the Drafting Committee on first reading, has been issued (A/CN.4/L.969).

General principles of law

1 June 2022 The Commission adopted the text and title of draft conclusion 5 on the topic as contained in documents A/CN.4/L.955/Add.1 and A/CN.4/L.955/Add.1/Corr.1 (Spanish only).

Visit of the ICJ President via Zoom

1 June 2022 The President of the International Court of Justice, Judge Joan E. Donoghue, addressed the Commission via Zoom. An exchange of views followed.

Protection of the environment

27 May 2022 The Chair of the Drafting Committee presented the report of the Drafting Committee on the topic (A/CN.4/L.968). The Commission considered the report and adopted the texts and titles of the preamble and of the draft principles 1 to 27 on second reading.

Protection of the environment

25 May 2022 The document containing texts and titles of the draft preamble and the draft principles adopted by the Drafting Committee on second reading, has been issued (A/CN.4/L.968).

Programme of work

17 May 2022 The Commission decided to include the topics “Settlement of international disputes to which international organizations are parties”, “Prevention and repression of piracy and armed robbery at sea” and “Subsidiary means for the determination of rules of international law” in its programme of work and to appoint Mr. August Reinisch, Mr. Yacouba Cissé and Mr. Charles Chernor Jalloh, respectively, as Special Rapporteurs.

Succession of States & responsibility

17 May 2022 The Special Rapporteur summed up the debate on his fifth report (A/CN.4/751). The Commission decided in principle to change the form of the work on the topic from draft articles to draft guidelines.

Jus cogens

17 May 2022 The Chair of the Drafting Committee presented the report of the Drafting Committee on the topic (A/CN.4/L.967). The Commission considered the report and adopted the text of the draft conclusions 1 to 23 and annex and the title on second reading.

Jus cogens

16 May 2022 The document containing texts of the draft conclusions and Annex adopted by the Drafting Committee on second reading, has been issued (A/CN.4/L.967).

Succession of States & responsibility

11 May 2022 The Special Rapporteur, Mr. Pavel Šturma, introduced his fifth report on the topic (A/CN.4/751).  The Commission began its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s report.

Protection of the environment

10 May 2022 The Special Rapporteur summed up the debate on her third report (A/CN.4/750). The Commission decided to refer the text of the draft principles and of the draft preamble on the topic, as contained in the Special Rapporteur’s third report taking into account the comments and observations made during the debate.