The Work of the International Law Commission, 6th ed., vol. 1, 2004, U.N. Sales No. E.04.V.6 (ISBN 92-1-133576-0) Available for purchase in hardcopy from United Nations Publications in English, French and Spanish
	The Work of the International Law Commission, 6th ed., vol. 2, Instruments, 2004, U.N. Sales No. E.04.V.6 (ISBN 92-1-133576-0) Available for purchase in hardcopy from United Nations Publications in English, French and Spanish

The United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law, established under General Assembly resolution 2099 (XX) of 20 December 1965, includes among its goals the dissemination, through United Nations information media, of information about international law and activities in this field. In connection with this goal, the production of a publication on the work of the International Law Commission was suggested. In accordance with this suggestion, the first edition of the present publication was prepared by the Secretariat in 1966. The second, third, fourth and fifth editions were produced by the Secretariat in 1972, 1980, 1988 and 1996, respectively, further to requests of the International Law Commission which were endorsed by the General Assembly. The sixth edition brings up to date the 1996 edition by incorporating therein a summary of the latest developments of the work of the Commission, as well as texts of new Commission drafts and a new codification convention.

The publication is intended to provide a general introduction to the work of the International Law Commission, with sufficient references to facilitate further research. Accordingly, the publication contains, in Part I, a brief historical outline of the various attempts at the development and codification of international law up to the inception of the Commission's work and, in Part II, an account of the organization, programme and methods of work of the Commission, with particular reference to the Statute under which the Commission functions. Finally, Part III is devoted to brief descriptions of the various topics and sub-topics of international law considered by the International Law Commission. An account is also given of the actions decided upon by the General Assembly following the consideration of the topics or sub-topics by the Commission, and of the results achieved by diplomatic conferences convened by the General Assembly to consider drafts prepared by the Commission.

Annexes are appended, containing the text of the Commission's Statute, a list of present and former members of the Commission, the text of the decision of the Swiss Federal Council regarding the juridical status of the members of the Commission at the place of its permanent seat, and the full texts of final draft articles prepared by the Commission or, where appropriate, of multilateral conventions based on such draft articles, as adopted by diplomatic conferences convened under the auspices of the United Nations or the General Assembly itself. The multilateral conventions contained in annex V appear in volume II.