- Discussion on the historical, socioeconomical and legal aspects of the topic, including an analysis of the international law applicable to piracy and armed robbery at sea, and its shortcomings. Review of the national legislation and judicial practice of States concerning the definition of piracy and the implementation of conventional and customary international law. Discussion of the programme of work. Proposal for three draft articles: on the scope of the draft articles, on the definition of piracy, and on the definition of armed robbery at sea.
- First report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Yacouba Cissé (74th session of the ILC (2023))
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- Description and analysis of the practice of international organizations involved in combating piracy and armed robbery at sea. Review of the regional and subregional approaches to combating piracy and armed robbery at sea, as well as the practice of States in concluding bilateral agreements. Outline of the future work on the topic. Proposal for four draft articles: on general obligations, on the obligation of prevention, on the criminalization under national law, and on the establishment of national jurisdiction.
- Second report of the Special Rapporteur, Mr. Yacouba Cissé (75th session of the ILC (2024))
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- Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its seventy-fourth session, 24 April to 2 June and from 3 July to 4 August 2023
- The Commission had before it the first report of the Special Rapporteur (A/CN.4/758), which discussed the historical, socioeconomical and legal aspects of the topic; reviewed the national legislation and judicial practice of States concerning the definition of piracy and the implementation of conventional and customary international law; and discussed the future programme of work on the topic. The Commission also had before it a memorandum prepared by the Secretariat providing elements in the previous work of the Commission that could be particularly relevant for its future work on the topic and the views expressed by States; as well as information on resolutions adopted by the Security Council and by the General Assembly relevant to the topic (A/CN.4/757).
- Following the debate in plenary, the Commission decided to refer draft articles 1, 2 and 3, as contained in the first report of the Special Rapporteur, to the Drafting Committee, taking into account the views expressed in the plenary debate.
- The Commission considered the report of the Drafting Committee (A/CN.4/L.984) on the topic and provisionally adopted draft articles 1 to 3.
- Discussion in Plenary: 3619th, 3620th, 3621st, 3623rd, 3624th and 3625th (5 to 16 May 2023), 3634th (2 June 2023) and 3649th, 3650th and 3651st (27 and 31 July 2023) meetings.
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- ILC Report, A/78/10, 2023, chap. VI, paras. 50–58
- See the website of the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly and the topical summary of debate in the Sixth Committee (A/CN.4/763)
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- Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its seventy-fifth session, 29 April to 31 May and from 1 July to 2 August 2024
- The Commission had before it the second report of the Special Rapporteur (A/CN.4/770) and a second memorandum prepared by the Secretariat concerning the topic (A/CN.4/767), providing information on: the treatment of the provision containing the definition of piracy in the 1956 draft articles concerning the law of the sea; views expressed by States at the First United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, which resulted in the adoption of the Convention on the High Seas, and at the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, which resulted in the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; and writings relevant to the definitions of piracy and of armed robbery at sea.
- Following the debate in plenary, the Commission decided to refer draft articles 4, 5, 6 and 7, as contained in the second report, to the Drafting Committee, taking into account the views expressed in the plenary debate. That included the understanding that the Committee would first hold a general discussion on the topic as a whole and its future direction.
- The Chair of the Drafting Committee subsequently presented an interim oral report of the Drafting Committee on the general discussion regarding the topic as a whole and its future direction and on draft article 4, provisionally adopted by the Drafting Committee (see A/CN.4/L.1000).
- At its 3681st meeting, on 10 July 2024, the Commission was informed that Mr. Yacouba Cissé had resigned as Special Rapporteur for the topic. The Commission expressed its deep appreciation to Mr. Cissé for his initiative in proposing the important topic of “Prevention and repression of piracy and armed robbery at sea” for its programme of work and the important contributions made in his capacity as Special Rapporteur. At its 3701st meeting, on 2 August 2024, the Commission appointed Mr. Louis Savadogo as Special Rapporteur for the topic.
- Discussion in Plenary: 3668th, 3669th, 3670th, 3671st and 3672nd (21 to 28 May 2024), 3674th (1 July 2024), 3681st (10 July 2024) and 3701st (2 August 2024) meetings.
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- ILC Report, A/79/10, 2024, chap. VI, paras. 76–137
- See the website of the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly and the topical summary of debate in the Sixth Committee (A/CN.4/778)
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- Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its seventy-sixth session, 28 April to 30 May 2025
- The Commission had before it a note by the Special Rapporteur (A/CN.4/786).
- The Commission decided to establish a Working Group of the Whole on the topic, chaired by the Special Rapporteur, to consider the note by the Special Rapporteur.
- Owing to the reduction of the length of the present session, the Working Group held one meeting.
- At its 3719th meeting, on 26 May 2025, the Commission took note of the oral report of the Chair of the Working Group on the discussion in the Working Group.
- Discussion in Plenary: 3702nd (28 April 2025), 3719th (26 May 2025) and 3726th (29 May 2025) meetings
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- ILC Report, A/80/10, 2025, chap. X, paras. 400–418
- See the website of the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly.
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- Resolution 77/103 of 7 December 2022
- Drew the attention of Governments to the importance for the International Law Commission of having their views on the various aspects of the topics on the agenda of the Commission, in particular on all the specific issues identified in chapter III of its report, regarding, inter alia, Prevention and repression of piracy and armed robbery at sea.
- Took note of the decision of the International Law Commission to include the topic…“ Prevention and repression of piracy and armed robbery at sea”… in its programme of work.
- Took note of the request of the Commission to the Secretariat to prepare a memorandum that would be particularly relevant for its future work on the topic “Prevention and repression of piracy and armed robbery at sea”.
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- See the website of the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly and the topical summary of debate in the Sixth Committee (A/CN.4/755)
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- Resolution 78/108 of 7 December 2023
- Drew the attention of Governments to the importance for the International Law Commission of having their views on the various aspects of the topics on the agenda of the Commission, in particular on all the specific issues identified in chapter III of its report, regarding:…(a) Prevention and repression of piracy and armed robbery at sea;
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- See the website of the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly and the topical summary of debate in the Sixth Committee (A/CN.4/763)
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- Resolution 80/164 of 15 December 2025
- Drew the attention of Governments to the importance for the International Law Commission of having their views on the various aspects of the topics on the agenda of the Commission, in particular on all the specific issues identified in chapter III of its report, regarding:…(c) Prevention and repression of piracy and armed robbery at sea;
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- See the website of the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly
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