International Law Commission International Law Commission

Last update: July 15, 2015

First Session (1949)

The International Law Commission held its first session at Lake Success, New York, from 12 April to 9 June 1949 in accordance with General Assembly resolution 174 (II) of 21 November 1947.

Topics considered in 1949

Planning for the codification of international law: survey of International law with a view to selecting topics for codification

  • Article 18 of the Statute of the International Law Commission

Draft declaration on the rights and duties of States (Summary | Analytical Guide)

  • Resolution 178 (II) adopted by the General Assembly 21 November 1947

The Commission adopted the Draft declaration on the fundamental rights and duties of States with commentaries.

Formulation of the principles recognized in the Charter of the Niirnberg Tribunal and in the judgment of the Tribunal (Summary | Analytical Guide)

Preparation of a draft code of offences against the peace and security of mankind (Summary | Analytical Guide)

  • Resolution 177 (II) adopted by the General Assembly 21 November 1947

Desirability and possibility of establishing an international judicial organ for the trial of persons charged with genocide or other crimes over which jurisdiction will be conferred upon that organ by international coventions (Summary | Analytical Guide)

  • Resolution 260 B (III) adopted by the General Assembly 9 December 1948

Ways and means for making the evidence of customary international law more readily available (Summary | Analytical Guide)

  • Article 24 of the Statute of the International Law Commission

Cooperation with other bodies

  • Consultation with organs of the United Nations and with international and national organizations, official and non-official.
  • List of national and international organizations prepared by the Secretary-General for the purpose of distributing documents. (Articles 25 and 26 of the Statute of the International Law Commission).