National & Organizational Responses:

The Inaugural Newsletter contained two key features: the full United Nations Decade of International Law Program, and a summary of the United States response to the U.N. Decade Program. This second issue now summarizes the following documents:

• the Report of the U.N. Secretary-General on the U.N. Decade (26 Aug. 1992) - U.N. Doc. A/47/384 - 92-38677 3404h(E) & Addendum (23 Sept. 1992) - U.N. Doc. A/47/384/Add.1
  
• the National Reports of various nations on the U.N. Decade Carolyn L. Wilson, Deputy Legal Advisor of the United States Mission to the United Nations, provided the full reports submitted to the U.N. (Future editions of this Newsletter will summarize additional responses from other nations and international organizations.)
  
  

There were numerous responses to the U.N. Decade program. The responding nations (as of Sept. 23, 1992) include: Argentina, Austria, Bolivia, Cuba, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Netherlands, Romania, Spain (and the U.S., as profiled in the previous edition of this Newsletter). More than one dozen U.N. bodies responded. This program is not the exclusive reserve of the various U.N. agencies, however. Other international organizational responses were received from the Commission of the European Communities, Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee, Court of First Instance of the European Communities, Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, Hague Academy of International Law, International Committee of the Red Cross, International Council of Environmental Law, International Institute of Humanitarian Law, World Conservation Union, Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the World Federalist Movement.

The above responses are summarized in the U.N. Decade program format. The Editor has selectively incorporated the following items, which provide new insight into progressive developments in the field of international law.

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

• Australia, Norway (on behalf of the Nordic nations), Spain, and the Asian-African Consultative Committee stressed the need for two continuing needs: national review of potential adherance to more multilateral conventions and withdrawal of treaty reservations.
  
• The Inter-parliamentary Union reported on the 1992 Santiago conference regarding the resloution to develop measures to prevent and to intervene against the crime of genocide.
  
• The United Nations Environment Programme (U.N.E.P.) reported on its efforts to promote the addition of Parties to the Register of International Treaties and Other Sgreements in the Field of the Environment (containing the core of the 152 international environmental treaties). U.N.E.P also provided technical assistance, via national and regional workshops for developing compliance with multilateral environmental treaties.
  
• Austria is preparing to accede to the Agreement for the Establishment of the International Development Law Institute - providing internships to students of the Institute from developing nations.
  
• The Netherlands expressed the view that priority should be given to implementation of international norms and instruments already available - rather than to the establishment of new mechanisms. One example is the importance of strengthening the role of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Poland, on the other hand, expressed the view that the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on Strengthening the Role of the Organization should prepare a new convention on the peaceful settlement of disputes.

• Various organizations suggested (and invited other organizations to undertake) further study of the establishment of an international criminal court, to hear cases alleging individual responsibility.
  
• The World Intellectual Property Organization is developing a draft multilateral treaty for the settlement of relevant disputes between nations.
  
• The EEC reported that it is actively involved in the drafting of treaty language for the peaceful settlement of disputes - within the context of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe.
  
• UNITAR and GATT have jointly conducted workshops on procedures for settlement of commercial and environmental disputes.
  
• Austria's report focused on its goal of increasing acceptance of the supremacy of law in international relations; recognition of a competent international body to deal with cases States cannot agree on; and (with Mexico and other proponents) permitting the UN Secretary-General to obtain advisory opinions from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Spain thus believes that the ICJ should be a major forum for the activities of the UN Decade.
  
• Norway has contributed to the Secretary-General's trust fund to assist with the settlement of disputes in the ICJ.
  

• The ILO reported on the availability of its program of codification of international labor law - including 172 relevant conventions and 179 recommendations.
  
• The WHO reported on its work to implement norms establishing the "right to health." This right would include the requirement of technology transfer to assure its availability to all nations and peoples.
  
• The IMO has established the "Guidelines for the Designation of Special Areas and the Identification of Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas." These are designed to identify and protect ocean areas in need of special protection from marine pollution. It is working on draft protocols to establish civil liability for the carriage of hazardous substances by sea.
  
• Iran (and seperately, Mexico) proposed a week-long congress on public international law, to be held during the next term of the UN Decade. Representatives from all major legal systems, and international organizations, would thus meet to promote acceptance of and respect for international law and its codification.
  

• Australia anticipates the publication of a national magazine, dedicated to the UN Decade and related issues in international law. Japan has published (and distibuted to the public) a pamphlet entitled The United Nations and Japan.
  
• Mexico has encouraged that there be annual writing competitions on subjects relating to the UN Decade; and, that authors of recently published works give an informal presentation of their books for intwerested members of the UN Sixth Committee (during regular sessions of the General Assembly).
  
• UNITAR and the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat have jointly established an annual fellowship program at The Hague. Public and private international law courses can thus provide insight into the legal work of the UN system.
  
• The Commission of the European Communities has launched the Jean Monnet project on European integration in university studies (1990). A basic goal of this project is to make European integration a standard component of the university curricula by the year 2000. This project has led to the endowment of 135 educational chairs throughout the community. Interested individuals should contact the European University Council for the Jean Monnet Project.
  
• Bolivia, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, will be hosting a seminar in July 1993, on the implementation of international humanitarian law in the Republic of Bolivia.
  
• The ICAO will organize regional seminars (1993-1995) to stimulate national ratification of instruments of international air law.
  
• The decisions of the Court of First Instance of the European Communities are now available on the electronic database CELEX.
  
• The UN Secretariat is working on the CD-ROM version of the United Nations Treaty Series.
  
• The Netherlands is considering adoption of a required course in public international law for all graduate-level law faculties. Its government has co-financed an international space law conference to be organized by several Dutch universities.
  
• The International Institute of Humanitarian Law now offers conferences on the law of armed conflicts for officers of national armed forces. These courses also deal with the role of UN peacekeeping forces.
  
• Editor's note: there were no responses to the UN Decade's question regarding the provision of adequate financing for implementation of the UN Decade.
  

• Argentina and The Netherlands have established national followup procedures to keep track of developments related to the UN Decade.