UN DECADE REPORT

A comprehensive, though not complete, summary of the national and organizational responses to the UN Decade of International Law as provided in the Secretary-General's 1996 report (A/51/278) (1996 report) is provided in this article.

The General Assembly, by resolution 50/44, invited all States and International organizations and institutions to provide, update, or supplement information on activities they had undertaken in implementing the program. The General Assembly also requested that these parties submit their views on possible activities for the next term of the Decade.

In addition, the Resolution invited the International Committee of the Red Cross to continue reporting on its, and other pertinent bodies', work concerning protection of the environment and armed conflict. The Resolution also requested that the Secretary-General submit a report on the progressive development of international law and its codification at the General Assembly's fifty-first session and that the proceedings of the UN Congress on Public International Law (13-17 March 1995) be made available for dissemination.

The Resolution reported that the Treaty Section of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat continues to computerize the Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary-General and the UN's Treaty Series for Internet and on-line availability, respectively, to Member States and other users. The United Nations Juridical Yearbook is also being computerized.

The 1996 report delineates three countries responses to requests for information on their activities concerning the UN Decade: Chile, Norway and Turkmenistan. *** Approximately 24 entities, comprised of UN bodies and international bodies and organizations, also provided information for the 1996 report.

As in prior reports, the 1996 report is divided into three sections: an introduction providing general information (summarized above); an analytical presentation of the States and international organizations' responses; and a summary of UN activities concerning the progressive development of international law and its codification. Similarly, this article applies the same format used in the report.

INTRODUCTION

(summarized above)

A. Promotion of the acceptance of and respect for the principles of international law:

• Acceptance of Multilateral Treaties
  
  
• Turkmenistan is considering accession to the following conventions: the 1958 Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards; the 1980 UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods; the 1974 Convention on the Limitation Period in the International Sale of Goods; and, the 1951 Convention relating to Status of Refugees.
• Fourteen new ratifications of seven human rights conventions and more than 30 assurances of an intention to ratify one or more of these were received by the Director-General of the ILO by the beginning of the ILO Conference (June 1996).
• Seventy-five Governments signed the Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC) Agreement and the FAO received over 3,700 offers of service. Six Governments signed the Transition in Eastern and Central Europe (TCDT) Agreement and the FAO received 122 applications.
• Brief status of international air law instruments:
  
  

• Brief status of conventions and protocols relating to the environment:
  
  

• Assistance and Technical Advice
  
  
• The International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) offers courses to lawyers on developing, codifying, implementing international maritime law and preparing legislation and legal texts in the area of merchant shipping.
• The UN International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) assists States in becoming Parties to and in effectively implementing the international drug control conventions. UNDCP collects national drug control laws and regulations and publishes them to ensure mutual disclosure among Parties and prepares an annual analytical index of this legislation and an annual directory of national authorities competent to act under various conventions' articles. UNDCP is preparing a commentary on the UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 in order to provide States with a uniform interpretation of that convention and practical recommendations for its implementation.
• The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) provided legal assistance to various East European countries drafting constitutions, facilitating future adherence to international standards.
• ILO deployed multidisciplinary teams to several developing countries to facilitate adherence and implementation of international labor conventions as part of the "Active Partnership Policy".
• The FAO and the Observatoire du Sahara et du Sahel jointly hosted an Expert Consultation on the legal and institutional aspects of managing and developing the Northern Sahara Groundwater Aquifer, in which the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ASCAD) also participated. They approved a short-term action program, inter alia, to harmonize legislation dealing with water resources.
• UNIDO published a Manual on Technology Transfer Negotiations and Licensing. UNIDO is also preparing Guidelines for the Development, Negotiation and Contracting of Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Projects to assist developing countries. UNIDO also provides technical legal assistance to individual countries.
• UNEP continues to provide legal advice and financial assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition in order to implement international environmental agreements. UNEP also provides administrative support to secretariats of international environmental agreements. UNEP initiated empirical studies on mechanisms to implement and ensure compliance with environmental conventions, dispute avoidance and resolution and trade measures in multilateral environmental agreements.
• The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) provides technical assistance to States on any measure concerning implementing international humanitarian law, and consequently, created a new unit, the Advisory Service on International Humanitarian Law, within its Legal Division to provide such advice. ICRC held two symposia of medical experts on effects of weapons in armed conflicts. ICRC also established an Advisory Service Documentation Centre to promote and facilitate the exchange of information on national implementation of humanitarian law. ICRC's CD-Rom on International Humanitarian Law is being updated.
• The International Bar Association (IBA) launched its Human Rights Institute (HRI) with South African President Nelson Mandela as its Honorary President. HRI is developing and expanding IBA's goal of promoting the rule of law, improving legal systems and access to justice and independence of lawyers and the judiciary. IBA has protested human rights violations and is surveying members on independence of lawyers and women's rights. HRI is also conducting surveys which will form the basis for model standards. IBA has a program of workshops and seminars which was launched with a Mexico City meeting in March 1996. IBA provides technical legal assistance to Bars of developing countries regarding multilateral treaty-making.
• The International Bureau of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) continues to encourage States to become Parties of the Hague Convention of 1907.
• The Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) provides technical legal advice and assistance on modern international arbitration practice.
• Ways and Means of Implementing Multilateral Treaties
  
  
• Turkmenistan is reviewing drafts of laws for enactment on the rights of refugees and migrants and on migration and it is also conforming legislation to international norms.
• UNDCP continues to monitor implementation of drug control treaties by providing to and analyzing annual questionnaires' results from States regarding legislative, administrative and operational measures they have taken.
• ODIHR of OSCE organized a Meeting in Warsaw, October 1995, and a report, on implementation of international humanitarian law. The report also identified problems concerning, inter alia, attacks on civilians, ethnic cleansing, and mistreatment of prisoners of war.
• Protocol No. 11 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 1950, which provides for setting up a single permanent court to interpret and apply the Convention, has been ratified by 21 of the 33 Contracting States. The permanent court will replace the current system comprised of 3 international bodies upon full ratification. From January through May 1996, the present European Court of Human Rights held that human rights violations had occurred in 12 cases and none in 7 cases.
• ICRC welcomed the creation of 2 ad hoc tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia by the Security Council concerning war crimes. The 26th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies was held in Geneva in December 1995. The Conference adopted 5 resolutions dealing with implementing and enforcing international humanitarian law, including, inter alia, bringing war criminals to justice and recommending that children under 18 years of age not be used in armed conflicts.
• In 1995, ICRC hosted 2 Meetings of Experts from military and academic circles, and UN forces commanders and officials. They reviewed the applicability of peacekeeping forces of all humanitarian law provisions and drafted project guidelines. In May 1996, a final text of the guidelines was established by ICRC and the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat, Guidelines for UN Forces Regarding Respect for International Humanitarian Law.

• Suggestions by States
  
  
• None reported.
• Suggestions by International Organizations
  
  
• WTO indicated that it conducted special training courses on dispute settlement procedures.
• IBA is a repository concerning alternative dispute resolution procedures and practice. Various IBA sections have held seminars and workshops on dispute resolution and enforcement of arbitral awards. The joint IBA/UNCITRAL project on effective implementation of the New York Convention continues.
• PCA's Steering Committee approved an interim report on dispute resolution which proposes, inter alia, a high-level diplomatic conference and an international instrument (similar to the Helsinki General Act) defining circumstances and methods available under PCA's auspices.
• PCA's Financial Assistance Fund received contributions and commitments from several countries to offset the cost of international dispute resolution. The scope of the Fund was clarified in an amendment to paragraph 5 of the Terms of Reference and Guidelines. The International Bureau's draft background paper on the field of environment and sustainable development was circulated to a working group of mostly government representatives; the working group was scheduled to meet at the Hague in June 1996 to consider PCA's role in the same field.
• The World Federalist Movement (WFM) and the Danish UN Association, jointly, and the Secretary-General and Administrative Council of PCA, independently, addressed the end of the Decade and the centenary of the First Hague Peace Conference and establishment of PCA calling for members to consider the scope and content of the international conference to be held in 1999 celebrating these events.
• The Court of ICC indicated increased activity in arbitration but not conciliation. Asian, Central and East European, and Latin American States have increased their use of arbitration. The ICC publication (No. 447-3) contains the latest version of the ICC Arbitration Rules. The ICC International Centre for Expertise and the ICC's Commission on Banking Technique and Practice have developed an interim system for resolving letters of credit disputes.

Progressive development and codification of International Law

• The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Legal Committee included the following in its 1996 work program: providing a mechanism by which to compensate coastal States for bunker oil damage, retaining compulsory insurance, and providing a draft international convention on wreck removal prepared by Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
• IMO held a conference in November 1995 during which amendments to several chapters of the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS 1974) and resolutions were adopted concerning enhancing the safety of roll-on/roll-off passenger ships. The amendments enter into effect in 1997.
• IMO held the International Conference on Hazardous and Noxious Substances and Limitation of Liability in 1996. The following treaty instruments were adopted: International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea 1996 (HNS 1996) and Protocol of 1996 to amend the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976 (1996 LLMC PROT). Both are open for signature from 1 October 1996 through 30 September 1997.
• Contracting Parties to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972 considered amendments concerning new approaches to waste management, pollution prevention, and technical cooperation to supersede the London Convention of 1972
• As of May 1996, ILO had adopted 176 conventions and 183 recommendations, the latest being the Safety and Health in Mines Convention (No. 176) and Recommendation (No. 183) and an Additional Protocol to the Labour Inspection Convention (No. 81). The 84^th maritime session of the ILO was held in October 1996 and focused on labor inspection, wages, work hours and recruitment and placement of workers.
• The Committee of Legal Advisors on Public International Law (CAHDI) of the Council of Europe reported that the progressive development of international law and its codification had been its central focus and it had examined many issues relating to public international law, including, the work of the Sixth Committee of the GA and the International Law Commission, State succession in Europe and treaties, jurisdictional immunities of States, law and practice as to reservations, the Decade, embassies and diplomats' debts, and international ad hoc tribunals.
• The Ministerial Meeting convened in Quebec in October 1995 and adopted the Fiftieth Anniversary Declaration on Food and Agriculture (Quebec Declaration) reaffirming the right to food as a fundamental human right and the noting the vital importance of sustainable management of natural resources. The FAO Conference of 1995 adopted, by resolution 4/95, the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.
• FAO's Committee on Agriculture (COAG) met in March 1995 and focused on UNCED, CSD Agenda 21, and implementing the Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides and plant resources. In October 1995, the FAO Conference considered and/or adopted several documents relating to agricultural development and sustainable agriculture. It also approved: the Code of Conduct for the Import and Release of Exotic Biological Control Agents, Guidelines for Pest Risk Analysis, and Requirements for the Establishment of Pest-Free Areas. The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) will be conformed with the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement.
• The General Work Programme of ICAO's Legal Committee dealt with global navigation satellite systems, international air law instruments, liability of air traffic providers and others, offenses not covered by current air law instruments.
• IBA passed a resolution (ICRC agrees) that a permanent international criminal court and an African Court of Human Rights should be established.
• IBA contributed to the development of the Convention on the International Return of Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects, adopted the Cross-border Insolvency Concordat, drafted an international convention on the human genome and published a report on harmonization of international competition law enforcement.

Encouraging teaching, study, and dissemination of International Law

• Promoting the UN Programme of Assistance in this area
  
  
• ILO scheduled seminars, courses and meetings in this area for 1996-1997. UNDCP scheduled meetings and regional workshops regarding drug-related matters and legal cooperation.
• Lawyers from the countries in socio-economic transition participated in the 1996 Hague Fellowship Programme.
• Promoting teaching of International Law for Students and Teacher at Schools and at Higher Education Levels
  
  
• ICRC continues to encourage introduction of humanitarian law courses in military academy and university curricula and initiated a pilot project for 2.5 million secondary students on humanitarian values.
• Organizing International Regional Seminars and Symposia for Experts on International Law
  
  
• UNEP held several meetings and Expert Workshops for general development of international environmental law.
• ODIHR of OSCE published A Collection of International Instruments: Human Rights and the Judiciary, a quick reference guide law professionals, non-governmental organizations, and the media. ODIHR organized symposia and seminars dealing with humanitarian issues.
• The International Court of Justice and UNITAR co-sponsored a colloquium, in the Hague, celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the Court in 1996. The colloquium's proceedings will be published.
• The International Congress/XXth Round Table, "United for the Respect of International Humanitarian Law," and XXIth Round Table, "Armed Conflicts and Disintegrated States - Humanitarian Challenge," were held in San Remo in 1995 and 1996, respectively. The Institute also held seminars on human rights issues concerning East and Central European countries and on cooperation between East-West European Countries. The Institute published the "San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea."
• In 1995, the European Court of Human Rights and the European Commission of Human Rights convened an informal meeting of the Presidents of Constitutional and Supreme Courts of the Member States of the Council of Europe on the responsibilities of national courts and the Strasbourg institutions concerning human rights. The colloquy on the European Convention on Human Rights which intends to inform law professionals and NGOs on recent developments in the European Convention on Human Rights, the Commission and the Court, took place in Budapest in 1995.
• ICAO held a regional seminar on air law in Asia and the Pacific region in January 1996.
• ICRC organized a symposium and participated in various international fora on the subject of displaced persons.
• IBA organized a range of conferences and seminars to aid the teaching, study and dissemination of international law and published papers or summaries thereon. IBA's Section on Business Laws began offering a course on the fundamentals of international business practice in Paris in 1995. IBA also organized workshops in various countries on the globalization of the legal profession.
• The ICC Court's four regional arbitration groups met during 1995. The ICC Court, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes, and the American Arbitration Association held several colloquia in 1995. During 1996, various committees of the ICC hosted conferences and seminars on diverse topics, including international arbitration, and collaboration in the arbitration process, in Spain, Lebanon and China.
• In 1995, the Centre for Studies and Research in International Law and International Relations of the Hague Academy of International Law focused on natural and industrial catastrophes and, in 1996, on state succession. It also offered courses on human rights for the benefit of Asian and African Countries.
• Training in International Law for Legal Professionals and Government Officials
  
  
• The Chilean International Law Society conducted activities to promote International Law, including conferences, seminars, research and publications in which academia and the public participated. Presentations made at the seminars were published in Estudios, consisting of 10 volumes to date. The Society also published two books, El Tratado de Paz y Amistad entre Chile y Argentina (1988) and Solucion judicial de controversias. El derecho internacional ante los tribunales internacionales e internos (1995), and initiated an award for the best Master's thesis concerning international law.
• UNDCP organized seminars, regional workshops and expert working groups in various areas of concern in the control of illegal drugs regarding training judges and prosecutors, training legal drafters of legislation, drafting model legislation and cooperation between States in drug-control.
• ODIHR of OSCE and UNHCR conducted a Judicial Training Workshop in Belarus, and a Professional Training Workshop for Russian Judges in Moscow, in 1996.
• UNITAR's training program in debt and financial management is designed to assist countries in sub-Sahara Africa, Central, North and South Asia, and the Middle-East by providing seminars, workshops, training, both on a one-time and on a continuing basis (in some countries) on regional and national levels. The UNITAR/IPA Fellowship Programme in Peacemaking and Preventive Diplomacy provided training in conflict and alternative dispute resolution methods and is developing materials in the area. UNITAR also organized workshops settlement of trade disputes at WTO and joined UNEP and UNCHS in providing a Training Programme in Environmental Law and Policy in 1995 in Nairobi. UNITAR and the IUCN's Commission on Environmental Law began a correspondence instruction program to disseminate information world-wide to both governmental and non-governmental organizations which will supplement current in-field training.
• Italy sponsored courses on humanitarian law for armed forces. UNHCR organized two courses on international refugee law in San Remo in 1995 and 1996, respectively.
• UNEP trained officials from developing countries in aspects of international and national environmental law and is developing a training manual on environmental law.
• The Hague Academy of International Law held general courses concerning the 50^th Anniversary of the UN, nuclear proliferation, L'emergence de l'Etat de droit, and bilateralism and community interest, in 1995; and, state sovereignty, international trade law, the International Court and arbitration and Security Council measures under UN Charter Chapter VII, in 1996.
  
  

m Publication of the Practice of States

• ILO published the following texts in 1995-1996: ILO Law on Freedoms of Association: Standards and Procedures; The Digest of Decisions and Principles of the Freedom of Association Committee of the Governing Body (4^th ed.); and, Handbook of Procedures Relating to International Labour Conventions and Recommendations. The ILO also announced that its computer-based system, ILOLEX, updated annually, will include general law and practice surveys on selected international labor instruments. The two most current surveys deal with ILO instruments on employment termination and non-discrimination and occupation. The Internet ILO home page (http://www.unicc.org/ilo) provides basic information on international labor standards.
• In 1994, the Council of Europe, through its Committee of Legal Advisors on Public International Law (CAHDI), set up a Group of Specialists to do a feasibility study of a pilot project on documentation of State succession and recognition (DI-S-PR); its contribution to the Decade.
• In 1996, FAO published "Reforming Water Resources Policy - A Guide to Methods, Processes and Practices", Irrigation and Drainage Papers, No. 52.
• The UN Dag Hammarskjold Library is joining the Global Legal Information Network (GLIN), a database of statutes and regulations from the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. Access to GLIN is available to the Library's official users. The Office of Legal Affairs' Codification Division published The Work of the International Law Commission and plans to publish a collection of essays on public international law by members of the International Law Commission. It will prepare opinion abstracts from the United Nations Juridical Yearbook for GLIN. The Division is considering making the United Nations Juridical Yearbook and the Report of the International Law Commission available electronically.
• Publication of International Legal Instruments and Legal Studies
  
  
• In 1995, FAO published: "Legislation Governing Food Control and Quality Certification", and, "Treaties Concerning the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses - Asia", FAO Legislative Studies series, Nos. 54 and 55, respectively.
• In 1995, UNEP published a collection of articles entitled "UNEP's New Way Forward: Environmental Law and Sustainable Development" and "Legislating Chemicals: An Overview". UNEP also continued to publish the "Biannual Bulletin of Environmental Law" and updated the Register of International Treaties and Other Agreements in the Field of the Environment (1996). UNEP and IUCN plan to develop a national and international environment law database to serve developing countries' needs.
• ICRC disseminated the Guidelines for military manuals and instructions on protecting the environment during armed conflicts. In September 1995, ICRC went on the World Wide Web (home page not reported). ICRC is also developing a model manual for military commanders, without legal backgrounds, on humanitarian law norms. ICRC and the International Institute of Humanitarian Law are completing the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea.
• UNESCO published: Human Rights: Major International Instruments (1995 and 1996); World Directory of Teaching and Research Institutions in International Law (3^rd ed. 1995); and Non-Military Aspects of International Security (1995).
• The Department of Public Information of the Secretariat and the Office of Legal Affairs produced a videotape "International Law: Our Common Language", which is shown during the UN Congress on Public International Law.
• Publication of Judgments and Advisory Opinions
  
  
• The Court of Justice of the European Communities continued to disseminate case law through systematic publication in the 11 official languages of the Community and through regularly holding meetings, symposia and conferences.
• The Inter-American Court of Human Rights published case law, advisory opinions, provisional measures and the Annual Report (containing a summary of the Court's activity for the year). Some publications are also available on diskettes. The Court has computerized its proceedings and all of its judgments, advisory opinions, provisional measures, general information and press releases are on Internet (http://www.umn.edu/humanrts). It also has a site on the OAF system (home page not reported). Summaries, indexes and analyses of decisions are being prepared.
• The European Court of Human Rights' judgments are available on Internet (home page not reported). They are also available full text on HUDOC database. The Court's registry is preparing an index. The Council of Europe published "Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights: Reference Charts". The Court is now issuing an annual collection of summaries of judgments (available since 1993 and also available in other Court publications) and an annual Survey of Activities. In 1995, the Court published a special edition covering 1959-1994, "Survey: Thirty Five Years of Activity".
• The Office of Legal Affairs' Codification Division published Reports of International Arbitral Awards (vol. XX, 1996).
• Publication by International Organizations of Treaties Concluded
  
  
• ILO updated a three volume set of ILO Conventions and recommendations (English version [1995]; French version [1996]).
• In 1995, WTO published Basic Instruments and Selected Documents (BISD), supplement no. 40, a collection of the Legal Texts on the WTO Dispute Settlement Procedures, and an Analytical Index: Guide to GATT Law and Practice. WTO also published various texts on the Uruguay Round, Schedules of Concessions and Commitments, and Plurilateral Trade Agreements.
• Publication of the United Nations Juridical Yearbook remains backlogged. Volumes of past and recent years are being prepared simultaneously to correct the problem. It is expected that the publication backlog will be eliminated in 1998. The 1993 edition will contain an index and a cumulative index for 1960-1993 will be available.
• The Office of Legal Affairs' Treaty Section reported that over 40,000 treaties were submitted for registration pursuant to Article 102 of the Charter and 474 multilateral treaties were deposited with the Secretary-General. The Treaty Section continues to computerize treaty information from the UN Treaty Database. Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary-General is now available in full text format, updated daily, within the UN on the LAN and also on the Internet at http://www.un.org/Depts/Treaty. Fifteen hundred volumes of the UN Treaty Series (UNTS) are available on the LAN. The United Nations Treaty Series Cumulative Index and the League of Nations Treaty Series will also be available on the LAN as of 1996. The UN Electronic Services Division is exploring the use of external service providers to upgrade computer access to the database and the treaty registry system. The Division notes that this should expedite the publication process and also commented that the publication process would be enhanced if translations were increased.

E. Procedures and organizational aspects

• Role of the Sixth Committee
  
  
• No report.
• Proceedings of the UN on Public International Law
  
  
• The Office of Legal Affairs' Codification Division prepared the Congress' proceedings for external publication in 1996.
• Establishment of National, Subregional and Regional Committees
  
  
• No report.
• Question of Adequate Financing for Implementing the Programme for the Decade
  
  
• Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Japan, Norway and Switzerland contributed to the UN Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar in Geneva.

UN ACTIVITIES REGARDING PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND ITS CODIFICATION

Human Rights Law

• The Human Rights Commission is currently working on drafts of declarations concerning rights and responsibilities of individuals and social groups and social organs to protect human rights, rights of indigenous peoples; and, on protocols on the Convention against torture, the Conventions on children's rights and the Convention on civil and political rights.
• The Subcommission is elaborating principles and guidelines concerning victims' remedies and rehabilitation and is studying human rights and the environment, housing, etc.
• The Commission on the Status of Women is continuing its work on eliminating discrimination against women.
  
  

The Law of Disarmament

• The Review Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons adopted a protocol prohibiting some laser weapons and amended other protocols.
• Negotiations concerning a comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty continue.
• The Disarmament Commission adopted the "Guidelines for International Arms Transfers".
  
  

The Law of Outer Space

• The Legal Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space continues to define and delimit matters relating to outer space and to the character and use of geostationary orbit.
  
  

The Law of Economic Development

• The Joint UNCTAD/IMO Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Maritime Liens and Mortgages is considering revising the 1952 International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules.
  
  

The Law of International Trade

• The UN Commission on International Trade Law adopted the UNCITRAL Model on Electronic Commerce and the UNCITRAL Notes on Organizing Arbitral Proceedings.
  
  

The Law of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

• The Commission is focusing, inter alia, on crimes against children, and corruption.
  
  

The Law on Environment

• UNEP continues its work on international environmental law, and, is specifically focusing, inter alia, on sustainable development, hazardous chemicals and pesticides, and the marine environment.
  
  

The Law of the Sea

• Work continues on establishing the three institutions created by the UN's Convention on the Law of Sea.
  
  

Work of the International Law Commission

• The Commission adopted the Code of Crimes against the Peace and Security of Mankind. The Commission also worked on 60 articles on State responsibility and recommendations regarding State succession. The Commission will consider in the future diplomatic protection, ownership and protection of wrecks in relation to national maritime jurisdiction and unilateral acts of States.
  
  

Work of the Special Committee on the UN Charter

• The Special Committee, inter alia, continued work on implementing assistance to third States, dispute resolution, and the Trusteeship Council.
  
  

Work of the Sixth Committee

• The Committee adopted and opened for signature or accession the UN Convention on Independent Guarantees and Stand-by Letters of Credit. The Committee also approved the UN Model Rules of Conciliation of Disputes between States. The Committee also continues work on assistance to third States and sanctions, an international criminal court, diplomatic courier and non-navigational uses of international watercourses. The Committee reaffirmed the Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism.