International law is a primary concern of the United Nations. The mandate for the activities in this field emanates from the Charter of the United Nations which, in its Preamble, sets the goal "to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained".

International Court of Justice (ICJ) ("World Court")

The International Court of Justice (http://www.icj-cij.org/), located in The Hague (Netherlands), is one of the six major organs of the United Nations. The Court, in existence since 1946, serves as the successor to the Permanent Court of International Justice established by the League of Nations and derives its mandate from a Statute which forms an integral part of the Charter of the United Nations. The Court has two functions: to render judgments on disputes submitted to it by States and to furnish advisory opinions on questions referred to it by authorized bodies.

ICJ decisions first appear as separate documents and are later republished in annual compilations in the series Reports of Judgments, Advisory Opinions and Orders, to which ICJ sales numbers are assigned. The Court's website has extensive information about ICJ cases from 1946 onwards, often including an overview or summary of judgments and orders. The documentation for each case includes the document instituting proceedings, written pleadings, oral arguments, correspondence and other relevant documents. These materials are made public, after the Court has given its final decision, in the series Pleadings, Oral Arguments, Documents in the language of submission (English or French) only.

• The annual reports of the ICJ to the General Assembly are issued as supplement number 4 to the Official Records of the General Assembly (e. g., A/63/4). A complete list of the reports can be found in the UN-I-QUE database.
  
  
• United Nations Headquarters press releases, issued under the series symbol ICJ/-, can be retrieved through the search option at the Press Releases website; those originating from The Hague are accessible from the Court's Press Room.

Major publications detailing the work of the ICJ:

• The latest versions of the basic legal documents relating to the organization of the Court are posted on its website. Printed editions of this material appear in the series Acts and Documents.
  
  
• The International Court of Justice Yearbook contains information about the basic texts governing the work of the Court, its members (with biographies), organization, jurisdiction, functioning, administration and finances in a given year. The texts of declarations recognizing the jurisdiction of the ICJ are reproduced in full; other relevant instruments are listed. Judgments and advisory opinions given during the course of the year are summarized. A complete list of the Yearbooks can be found in the UN-I-QUE database.
  
  
• The Summaries of Judgments, Advisory Opinions and Orders of the International Court of Justice condense the case-law of the ICJ:
  1948-1991 (Document symbol: ST/LEG/SER.F/1; Sales number: 92.V.5),
  1992-1996 (Document symbol: ST/LEG/SER.F/1/Add.1; Sales number: 97.V.7),
  1997-2002 (Document symbol: ST/LEG/SER.F/1/Add.2; Sales number: 03.V.12).
  
  
• The Bibliography of the International Court of Justice, published annually and assigned an ICJ sales number, lists publications relating to the Court which have come to the attention of the Registry during a given year. The Bibliography formed part of the Yearbook up to the 1963-1964 edition and appears now as a separate publication. A complete list of the Bibliographies can be found in the UN-I-QUE database.

International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (http://www.itlos.org/), located in Hamburg (Germany), was established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982, which entered into force on 16 November 1994 (current status of the Convention). Appeal to the ITLOS is one of the means for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention. Its mandate is further defined in Annex VI to the Convention which contains the Statute of the Tribunal.

The Tribunal, an independent judicial body, was granted observer status in the General Assembly by resolution 51/204 of 17 December 1996. A Cooperation Agreement between the United Nations and the Tribunal was signed on 18 December 1997 and approved by the General Assembly in resolution 52/251 of 8 September 1998 (the text of the agreement is annexed to the resolution).

• Information on ITLOS procedures and cases is posted on the Tribunal's website under "Proceedings and Judgments".
  
  
• The latest developments are reflected in press releases.

Major publications detailing the work of the ITLOS:

• The latest versions of the basic legal documents relating to the organization of the Tribunal are posted on its website. This material is also available in printed format (list) but the Internet versions are more current.
  
  
• The Yearbook (list) contains information about the organization, functioning, competence, procedure, judicial work, finances and members of the Tribunal in a given year. Included is also a bibliography listing publications on the Tribunal which have come to the attention of the Registry during the reporting period. Full-text source materials are reprinted in annexes.
  
  
• Tribunal actions are recorded in the series Reports of Judgments, Advisory Opinions and Orders (list). Documentation relating to its proceedings is compiled in the series Pleadings, Minutes of Public Sittings and Documents (list).

International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)

Formal name:
International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (http://www.un.org/icty/), located in The Hague (Netherlands), was established by Security Council resolution 827 (1993) of 25 May 1993. The Statute of the Tribunal, whose original version is annexed to document S/25704 + Corr.1, defines its mandate. It was amended by Security Council resolutions 1166 (1998) of 13 May 1998, 1329 (2000) of 30 November 2000 and 1411 (2002) of 17 May 2002. The current version of the Statute is posted on the Tribunal's website.

• The Tribunal reports annually to the General Assembly and the Security Council. The full text of the annual reports can be accessed through the Tribunal's website.
  
  
• The latest developments are reflected in press releases.

Major publications detailing the work of the Tribunal:

• The latest versions of the Basic Legal Documents of the Tribunal are posted on its website. Printed editions of this material are available but the Internet versions are more current.
  
  
• The Yearbook provides information about the work, members (with biographies), jurisdiction, organization, functioning and activities of the Tribunal in a given year. Included is a bibliography which lists publications relating to the Tribunal released during the reporting period. Available in Printed editions.
  
  
• The Judicial Reports reprint all public indictments as well as the decisions and judgments rendered as of 1994. Available in Printed editions.
  
  
• The Judicial Supplements provide monthly summaries of significant decisions and judgments. The full text of these Supplements is available online.

International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)

Formal name:
International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States between 1 January and 31 December 1994.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (http://www.ictr.org/), located in Arusha (United Republic of Tanzania), was established by Security Council resolution 955 (1994) of 8 November 1994; the annexed Statute defines its mandate. The Statute was amended by Security Council resolutions 1165 (1998) of 30 April 1998, 1329 (2000) of 30 November 2000, 1411 (2002) of 17 May 2002, 1431 (2002) of 14 August 2002 and 1512 (2003) of 27 October 2003.

• The Tribunal reports annually to the General Assembly and the Security Council. The full text of the annual reports can be retrieved from the Tribunal's website.
  
  
• Basic legal documents are accessible online.
  
  
• Full-text information regarding completed and pending cases is also posted.
  
  
• The latest developments are reflected in press releases.

International Criminal Court (ICC)

The International Criminal Court (http://www.icc-cpi.int/), located in The Hague (Netherlands), is an independent judicial body with jurisdiction over persons charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Court was established by the Rome Statute adopted by the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court on 17 July 1998. The Statute entered into force on 1 July 2002. The Court's relationship with the United Nations is governed by an agreement between the two international organizations.

• The United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court met in Rome (Italy) from 15 June to 17 July 1998 and adopted the Rome Statute on 17 July 1998.


• The Plenipotentiary Conference established a Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court to make arrangements for the establishment of the Court and its operation prior to the first session of the Assembly of States Parties.


• The Preparatory Commission held 10 sessions and issued reports and proceedings on the work concluded at each session (document series symbol: PCNICC/-). The Commission also prepared a guide to its documentation. The full text of selected Commission documents can be accessed online.


• The Assembly of States Parties met for the first time in New York from 3 to 10 September 2002. Assembly documentation, issued under document series symbol: ICC-ASP/-, is available online.


• The ICC Press Releases website has the latest news. New York press releases are issued under the series symbol L/- and can be retrieved through the search option at the UN Press Releases website.

United Nations Administrative Tribunal

The United Nations Administrative Tribunal was established by General Assembly resolution 351 A (IV) of 24 November 1949; the annexed Statute defines the mandate of the Tribunal. Its objective is designated as passing judgment upon applications alleging non-observance of contracts of employment of staff members or of their terms of appointment (Article 2 of the Statute). The Statute was amended by the General Assembly at various times since 1949; the updated text is contained in AT/11/Rev.6 (Sales number: 03.X.1).

The decisions of the Tribunal, whose numbers do not coincide with the case numbers, are first issued as separate documents under the series symbol AT/DEC/- and later cumulated. A complete list of these cumulations can be found in the UN-I-QUE database. The cumulations also include a subject index to the judgments during the period in question and give the composition of the Tribunal for the same timeframe. The full text of the decisions (from the beginning in 1950 onwards) is accessible through UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).

Sixth Committee of the General Assembly

The Sixth Committee, one of the six Main Committees of the General Assembly, is allocated all items on the Assembly's agenda which deal with legal issues. The actions of the Assembly based on the recommendations of the Sixth Committee, as well as the complete documentation relating to them, can be traced through the Index to Proceedings of the General Assembly, published on a sessional basis.

• Working documents are issued under the series symbol A/C.6/[session]/-. The full text of recent working documents can be retrieved through UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).

• Summary records of meetings are issued under the series symbol A/C.6/[session]/SR.[meeting number] (e. g., A/C.6/62/SR.1: Summary record of the 1st meeting of the Sixth Committee during the 61st session of the General Assembly on 8 October 2007). Speeches made before the Sixth Committee are indexed on a sessional basis in the Index to Proceedings of the General Assembly and can be researched by subject, speaker and country/organization. Sixth Committee speech citations may also be retrieved through the Index to Speeches of the UNBISnet database. The full text of recent meeting records is accessible through UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).

• The Sixth Committee submits a separate report to the plenary on every agenda item allocated to it. These reports synthesize the Committee's consideration of the items and transmit the final version of draft resolutions/decisions recommended to the plenary for adoption. These reports are working documents of the plenary; the Sixth Committee prefix (A/C.6/-) is not used for their document symbols. They are issued under the symbol of the plenary (e. g., A/62/450: Report of the Sixth Committee on agenda item 82 - International Law Commission). Since General Assembly resolutions and decisions often are not printed until weeks after their adoption, the final draft as contained in the Committee report (sometimes orally amended immediately prior to adoption) remains for a long time the only source for the text of the resolution/decision. A complete listing of Sixth Committee reports since the 57th session (e. g., 62nd) can be found in the UN-I-QUE database. A table of the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly at its 62nd session on the reports of the Sixth Committee (among others) is accessible through this Research Guide.

• Information relating to the work of the Sixth Committee (52nd session onwards) is also provided by the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs.

• Press releases are issued under the series symbol GA/L/- and can be retrieved through the search option at the Press Releases website.

International Law Commission (ILC)

The International Law Commission (http://untreaty.un.org/ilc/index.html) was established by General Assembly resolution 174 (II) of 21 November 1947; the annexed Statute defines the mandate of the Commission. Its primary objective is designated as the "promotion of the progressive development of international law and its codification" (Article 1 of the Statute). The Statute was amended by the General Assembly a number of times; the updated text (pdf), contained in A/CN.4/4/Rev.2 (Sales number: 82.V.8), is available online.

The Commission meets in one annual session in Geneva and reports to the General Assembly.

• Working documents are issued under the series symbol A/CN.4/-. The full text of all documents is available on the website of the Commission and recent documents can also be retrieved through UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).
  Reports submitted by special rapporteurs constitute a major category of working documents . A complete listing of these reports can be found in the UN-I-QUE database (example). The special rapporteurs' reports for a given year are reprinted in the ILC Yearbook (see below).

• Provisional summary records of meetings are issued under the series symbol A/CN.4/SR.[meeting number] (e. g., A/CN.4/SR.2941: Summary record of the 2941st meeting on 24 July 2007). The meeting records of a given year are reprinted in the ILC Yearbook (see below).

• The annual reports of the Commission to the General Assembly are issued as Supplement number 10 to the Official Records of the General Assembly. A complete list of these reports (1949 onwards) can be found in the UN-I-QUE database. The annual report of a given year is reprinted in the ILC Yearbook (see below). The full text of all annual reports can be accessed through the Commission's website, recent reports are available from UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).

• Press releases are issued under the series symbol L/- and can be retrieved through the search option at the Press Releases website.

Major publications detailing the work of the ILC:

• The Yearbook of the International Law Commission reproduces, in volume I, records of meetings which took place in a given year; volume II contains the texts of major reports produced during the year (including the annual report to the General Assembly). A complete list of the Yearbooks can be found in the UN-I-QUE database. The full text of all ILC Yearbooks is available through the Commission's website and UNBISnet .

• The Work of the International Law Commission, 7th edition (Sales number: 07.V.9) gives an overview of the ILC's activities and reproduces the full text of legal instruments drafted under its aegis. An updated list of these legal instruments (with, in many cases, links to the full text) is available online.
  

• The Analytical Guide to the Work of the International Law Commission, 1949-1997 (Document symbol: ST/LEG/GUIDE/1; Sales number: 98.V.10) describes the work of the ILC on legal issues falling within its mandate with references to the source materials. An online version of the Guide has been posted on the Commission's website.

 

United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL)

The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (http://www.uncitral.org/) was established by General Assembly resolution 2205 (XXI) of 17 December 1966; sections I and II of the resolution define the mandate of the Commission. Its primary objective is designated as the "promotion of the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade" (section I of the resolution).

The Commission meets in one annual session, convened alternately in New York (even years) and Vienna (odd years), and reports to the General Assembly.

• Working documents are issued under the series symbol A/CN.9/-. The full text of recent documents is available through the website of the Commission, UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS). Reports submitted by working groups constitute a major category of these documents. Information about UNCITRAL working groups and their documentation can be found on the Commission's website. Selected working documents of a given year are reprinted in the UNCITRAL Yearbook (see below).

• Summary records of meetings are issued under the series symbol A/CN.9/SR.[meeting number] (e. g., A/CN.9/SR.842: Summary record of the 842nd meeting on 28 June 2007). Selected meeting records of a given year are reprinted in the UNCITRAL Yearbook (see below). The full text of recent meeting records can be retrieved through UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).

• The annual reports of the Commission to the General Assembly are issued as Supplement number 17 to the Official Records of the General Assembly. A complete list of the reports (1968 onwards) can be found in the UN-I-QUE database. The annual report of a given year is reprinted in the UNCITRAL Yearbook (see below). The full text of recent annual reports can be accessed through the Commission's website, UNBISnet and the Official Document System of the United Nations (ODS).

• New York press releases are issued under the series symbol L/- and can be retrieved through the search option at the Press Releases website or the News page of the Commission's website.

Major publications detailing the work of UNCITRAL:

• The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Yearbook reproduces the annual report of the Commission as well as actions and comments on it, studies and reports on major subjects, the full text of legal instruments and the records of selected meetings which took place in a given year. A complete list of the Yearbooks can be found in the UN-I-QUE database. The full text of all Yearbooks is posted on the Commission's website.

• UNCITRAL : The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (Sales number: 86.V.8) gives an overview of UNCITRAL's activities as at August 1985 and reproduces the full text of legal instruments drafted under its aegis up to that time. A list of these legal instruments is available online, with links to full text and to status information.
  

• A Bibliography of Recent Writings related to the Work of UNCITRAL, issued annually, forms part of the Yearbook and has additionally appeared as a separate document since 1986. An updated list of recent writings is posted on the Commission's website.
  
  

A more comprehensive listing of United Nations documents and publications on law-related topics can be retrieved through the UNBISnet database. UNBISnet provides links to the full text of recent documentation.
Subject terms which might prove useful in conducting a search are: environmental law, intellectual property, international criminal courts, international trade law, judicial system, law of the sea, law of treaties, space law, war crimes, etc. Additional descriptors may be identified through the UNBIS Thesaurus. Proper names (e. g., Conference on the Law of Treaties between States and International Organizations or between International Organizations; Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses) may also be used for constructing subject searches.

Prepared and maintained by the Department of Public Information (DPI), Dag Hammarskjöld Library (DHL) . Comments as well as suggestions for further additions/enhancements may be directed to the Dag Hammarskjöld Library.