Agenda item 79
Sixty-fourth session
Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its forty-second session (agenda item 79)
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Authority: resolutions 2205 (XXI) and 63/120
- Documentation for this item
Summary of work
Background (source: A/64/100)
The General Assembly established the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) at its twenty-first session, in 1966, to promote the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade, and requested the Commission to submit an annual report to the Assembly (resolution 2205 (XXI)). The Commission began its work in 1968. It originally consisted of 29 Member States representing the various geographic regions and the principal legal systems of the world. At its twenty-eighth and fifty-seventh sessions, respectively, the General Assembly increased the membership of the Commission from 29 to 36 States (resolution 3108 (XXVIII)) and from 36 to 60 States (resolution 57/20).
For the current composition of the Commission, see decision 61/417.
At its sixty-third session, the General Assembly welcomed the initiatives of the Commission towards expanding its technical assistance and cooperation programme and drew the attention of the Secretary-General to the limited resources that were made available in that field; and welcomed the comprehensive review undertaken by the Commission of its working methods and the discussion by the Commission of its role in promoting the rule of law at the national and international levels (resolution 63/120).
At the same session, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to disseminate the text of the Legislative Guide on Secured Transactions of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law; and recommended that all States give favourable consideration to the Legislative Guide when revising or adopting legislation relevant to secured transactions (resolution 63/121).
Also at its sixty-third session, the General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea and authorized a signing ceremony to be held on 23 September 2009 in the Netherlands (resolution 63/122).
Consideration at the sixty-fourth session
Forthcoming
Action taken by the Sixth Committee
Forthcoming