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Research Guide

Since its inception in 1949, the work product (documentation, reports, texts and instruments etc) of the International Law Commission has accumulated into an extensive body of research into a wide range of aspects of public international law. The information on this site relating to such work product has been organized in a manner conducive to in-depth research.

What follows are several suggested methods of using this site to undertake research, starting from the specific to the general.

Searching for specific documents

Quick links

United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld Library's Guide

If you are searching for a specific document and you know its symbol, go to the search page, selecting the "Documents" index, enter the document symbol and be sure to have the search type set to "the exact phrase"
If you are searching for a specific document and you know the session/year when it was considered by the Commission, either go to the documentation page and select the respective session, or go to the sessions page and select the session (followed by the "list of documents" link).
If you are searching for a specific annual report, go to the reports page and select the session/year.

Researching the legislative history of a particular instrument

If you wish to research the history of the development by the Commission of a particular instrument, text of final report, go to the texts, instruments and final reports page, and select the topic under which the specific instrument, text of report was adopted (and from there access the respective Analytical Guide and Summaries page).

Researching a particular session of the Commission

For information on a particular session of the Commission go to the sessions page, and select a session/year from the pulldown menu. To see a list of in-session documentation for that session, go to the documentation page, or to see the annual report of the Commission to the General Assembly for that session, go to the Annual Reports page. To see the Yearbook of the International law Commission for that year (where available), go to the Yearbooks page.

Researching a particular topic

To research the Commission's work in relation to a particular topic, go to the summaries page and select the topic in question to obtain a brief narrative description of the work undertaken. Then select the cross-links to the respective page in the Analytical Guide to the Work of the International Law Commission to see an analytical breakdown of all the relevant documentation. A cross-link is also provided to the relevant page detailing any texts, instruments and final reports that may have been adopted for that topic.
Information is also available on the Commission's consideration of future topics.

Researching the composition, working methods and other information relating to the Commission

Information on the working methods, work programme etc of the International Law Commission may be obtained on the introduction page. To access information on the composition of the International Law Commission see the membership page. Information relating to the activities of the Commission, including on the Gilberto Amado lecture series as well as the annual Geneva International Law Seminar, is available on the activities page.

Researching the entire web site

To search the entire web site, go to the search page.

Codification Division, Office of Legal Affairs