Legal

The United Nations had brought neutrality and global profundity to the progression of international law, which resulted in the first High-level Meeting on the subject and a declaration that exhibited the will of States, Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson told the Sixth Committee as it began its debate on the rule of law at the international and national levels.

A phenomenon that had grown in scope, sophistication and complexity, terrorism could only be combated through the eradication of its root causes, adherence to relevant instruments of international law and global and regional partnerships, delegates told the Sixth Committee (Legal) today as it concluded its debate on measures to eliminate terrorism.

As the Sixth Committee (Legal) began consideration of measures to eliminate international terrorism, delegates, while condemning the association of terrorism with any specific religious, cultural or ethnic grouping, called for increased international cooperation to — once and for all — define terrorism and conclude a convention on the topic.

The General Assembly’s Sixth Committee (Legal) today elected Yuriy A. Sergeyev (Ukraine) as Chair for its sixty-seventh session.

The Advisory Board of the newly established United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre met for the first time on 2 April, in New York.

Adopting its 2012 draft report, the Special Committee charged with examining suggestions and proposals regarding the Charter of the United Nations and strengthening the world body’s role in promoting international law concluded its regular session today, forwarding its recommendations to the General Assembly.

The economic reach and consequences of Security Council sanctions triggered robust debate over protecting affected third party States today, as the Special Committee on the United Nations Charter and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization opened its annual session. Considered to be a “last resort”, sanctions were called “important instruments” for the maintenance and restoration of international peace and security by many Committee members.

Ending the current session of its work, the General Assembly’s Sixth Committee (Legal) approved ten draft resolutions today, including one which recommends observer status in the Assembly for the West African Economic and Monetary Union, an organization credited with fostering economic integration in its region.

The Sixth Committee (Legal) today ended its current discussion on the report of the Working Group on “measures to eliminate international terrorism”, and took action on five draft resolutions on different topics. Delegates reviewed procedural methods for the Committee’s work and criteria for consideration of future requests for observer status in the work of the General Assembly.

As the Sixth Committee (Legal) today concluded its debate on the report of the International Law Commission, delegates commended the Commission for its productive session, and offered closing remarks and concerns for the future work of the Commission and work of the Committee, which, it was said, could successfully transform outstanding topics into productive “legal tools” for the international community.