International Law Commission, July 2023.
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 resolution78/108 of 7 December 2023, the International Law Commission was scheduled to hold its seventy-fifth session at the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG) from 15 April to 31 May and from 1 July to 2 August 2024 (12 weeks). However, in light of the ongoing financial crisis, the session was held from 29 April to 31 May and from 1 July to 2 August 2024 (10weeks), in conference room XXI.
- Seventy-fifth session: Documents | Daily bulletin |
2024 ILC Report (advance version) - Commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the International Law Commission, Geneva, 24 May 2024
- Recently adopted texts:
- Draft conclusions on identification and legal consequences of peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens), 2022
- Draft principles on protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts, 2022
- Draft guidelines on the protection of the atmosphere, 2021
- Guide to Provisional Application of Treaties, 2021
- Draft articles on prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity, 2019
- Draft conclusions on subsequent agreements and subsequent practice in relation to the interpretation of treaties, 2018
- Draft conclusions on identification of customary international law, 2018
- Draft articles on the Protection of persons in the event of disasters, 2016
Current programme of work
The following topics are on the programme of work of the Commission:
- Immunity of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction;
- Succession of States in respect of State responsibility;
- General principles of law;
- Sea-level rise in relation to international law;
- Settlement of disputes to which international organizations are parties;
- Prevention and repression of piracy and armed robbery at sea;
- Subsidiary means for the determination of rules of international law;
- Non-legally binding international agreements.
Latest publication: Work of the International Law Commission, 10th ed. (vols.I and II)
Work of the International Law Commission, 10th ed., vols. I and II provides a general introduction to the work of the International Law Commission and includes several annexes (vol. II) reproducing the instruments adopted on the basis of the work of the Commission, or by the Commission itself.
Recent Developments
2024 ILC Report (advance version)
12 August 2024 Advance unofficial version of the 2024 ILC report is made available for the convenience of delegations. Official issuance in all six languages is expected by mid-September.
Adoption of the report
2 August 2024 The Commission adopted its report of the seventy-fifth session as a whole and thus concluded its work for that session.
Filling of a casual vacancy
31 July 2024 The Commission elected Mr. Xinmin Ma (China) to fill the casual vacancy arising from the resignation of Mr. Huikang Huang.
Immunity of State officials
30 July 2024 The Chair of the Drafting Committee presented the report of the Drafting Committee on the topic (A/CN.4/L.1001). The Commission took note of draft articles 1, 3, 4 and 5, provisionally adopted by the Drafting Committee.
Succession of States & responsibility
26 July 2024 The Chair of the Working Group on the topic, Mr. August Reinisch, presented the oral report of the Working Group. The Commission took note of the oral report of the Working Group and adopted the recommendations contained therein.
Sea-level rise
26 July 2024 The Co-Chair of the Study Group on the topic, Ms. Patrícia Galvão Teles, presented the oral report of the Study Group. The Commission took note of the oral report of the Study Group.
Immunity of State officials
25 July 2024 The document containing texts and titles of draft articles 1, 3, 4 and 5 [6] as provisionally adopted by the Drafting Committee, has been issued (A/CN.4/L.1001).
Succession of States & responsibility
24 July 2024 The document containing the report of the Working Group on the succession of States in respect of State responsibility has been issued (A/CN.4/L.1003).
Sea-level rise
23 July 2024 The document containing the report of the Study Group on sea-level rise in relation to international law has been issued (A/CN.4/L.1002).
Non-legally binding agreements
19 July 2024 The Special Rapporteur summed up the debate of his first report on the topic (A/CN.4/772).
Visit of the ICJ President
17 July 2024 The President of the International Court of Justice, H.E. Judge Nawaf Salam, addressed the Commission. An exchange of views followed.
Non-legally binding agreements
10 July 2024 The Special Rapporteur, Mr. Mathias Forteau, introduced his first report on the topic (A/CN.4/772). The Commission began its consideration of the Special Rapporteur’s first report.
