Report of the International Law Commission on the Work of Its 54th Session

A/RES/57/21No PDF available

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A Resolution of the General Assembly, under agenda item 156Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its 54th session, published in 2003.

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27 versions · 1953–2025

This is an older version — the most recent is A/RES/80/164

2025A/RES/80/164Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its 76th sessionLatestCompare with previous version
2024A/RES/79/121Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its 75th sessionCompare with previous version
2023A/RES/78/108Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its 74th sessionCompare with previous version
2019A/RES/73/265Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its 70th sessionCompare with previous version
2017A/RES/72/116Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its 69th sessionCompare with previous version

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18 topics

Conference and Meeting Services Consultations Cost Effectiveness Developing Countries Diplomatic Protection Documentation Experts Information Dissemination Information Exchange Inter-Agency Cooperation International Law International Organizations Laws and Regulations Liability Meeting Records Responsibility of International Organizations Shared Natural Resources Trust Funds

What does this mandate say?

20 operative paragraphs

Takes note with appreciation of the report of the International Law Commission on the work of its fifty-fourth session;Error: Reference source not found

Takes note of the decision of the International Law Commission to proceed with its work on the topic “International liability for injurious consequences arising out of acts not prohibited by international law”, as requested by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/82 of 12 December 2001, and also takes note of its decision to include in its programme of work the topics “Responsibility of international organizations”, “Shared natural resources” and “Fragmentation of international law: difficulties arising from the diversification and expansion of international law”;

Draws the attention of Governments to the importance for the International Law Commission of having their views on the various aspects involved in the topics on the agenda of the Commission, in particular on all the specific issues identified in chapter III of its report;

Reiterates its invitation to Governments, within the context of paragraph 3 above, to provide information to the International Law Commission regarding State practice on the topic “Unilateral acts of States”;

Also reiterates its invitation to Governments to submit the most relevant national legislation, decisions of domestic courts and State practice relevant to diplomatic protection in order to assist the International Law Commission in its work on the topic “Diplomatic protection”;

Recommends that the International Law Commission, taking into account the comments and observations of Governments, whether in writing or expressed orally in debates in the General Assembly, continue its work on the topics in its current programme;

Invites the International Law Commission to continue taking measures to enhance its efficiency and productivity;

Takes note of paragraph 524 of the report of the International Law Commission with regard to cost-saving measures, and encourages the Commission to continue taking such measures at its future sessions;

Takes note also of paragraph 532 of the report, and decides that the next session of the International Law Commission shall be held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 5 May to 6 June and from 7 July to 8 August 2003;

Stresses the desirability of further enhancing the dialogue between the International Law Commission and the Sixth Committee, and in this context encourages, inter alia, the holding of informal discussions between the members of the Sixth Committee and those members of the Commission attending the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly;

Requests the International Law Commission to continue to pay special attention to indicating in its annual report, for each topic, any specific issues on which expressions of views by Governments, either in the Sixth Committee or in written form, would be of particular interest in providing effective guidance for the Commission in its further work;

Also requests the International Law Commission to continue the implementation of article 16, paragraph (e), and article 26, paragraphs 1 and 2, of its statute in order to further strengthen cooperation between the Commission and other bodies concerned with international law, having in mind the usefulness of such cooperation;

Notes that consulting with national organizations and individual experts concerned with international law may assist Governments in considering whether to make comments and observations on drafts submitted by the International Law Commission and in formulating their comments and observations;

Reaffirms its previous decisions concerning the critical role of the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs of the Secretariat in providing assistance to the International Law Commission;

Reaffirms also its previous decisions concerning the summary records and other documentation of the International Law Commission;

Expresses the hope that the International Law Seminar will continue to be held in connection with the sessions of the International Law Commission and that an increasing number of participants, in particular from developing countries, will be given the opportunity to attend the Seminar, and appeals to States to continue to make urgently needed voluntary contributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for the International Law Seminar;

Requests the Secretary-General to provide the International Law Seminar with adequate services, including interpretation, as required, and encourages him to continue considering ways to improve the structure and content of the Seminar;

Also requests the Secretary-General to forward to the International Law Commission, for its attention, the records of the debate on the report of the Commission at the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly, together with such written statements as delegations may circulate in conjunction with their oral statements, and to prepare and distribute a topical summary of the debate, following established practice;

Requests the Secretariat to circulate to States, as soon as possible after the conclusion of the session of the International Law Commission, chapter II of its report containing a summary of the work of that session and the draft articles adopted on either first or second reading by the Commission;

Recommends that the debate on the report of the International Law Commission at the fifty-eighth session of the General Assembly commence on 27 October 2003.

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