New York – October 23, 2014
Mr Chairman,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to address the Sixth Committee. At the outset, I congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, and the other Members of the Bureau, on your election and commend you for the efficient manner in which you have been conducting the Committee’s work.
I am confident that in the coming weeks your work will be both intensive and productive, allowing the Committee to conclude on all agenda items before it, in good time.
Distinguished Delegates,
International law serves as a foundational building block for peaceful and constructive relations among nations. The development and promotion of international law is a critical component of the United Nations’ mission, while the work of the Sixth Committee in particular is essential for the maintenance of justice and respect for treaty obligations and international law.
The work of this Committee is closely linked to the priorities laid out for the current General Assembly session, including those related to peace and security. Already, your deliberations on measures to eliminate international terrorism confirmed Member States’ unequivocal commitment to condemn and combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Member States also used that opportunity to express on-going support for the United Nations Global Counter-terrorism Strategy (GCTS).
The GCTS continues to play a central role in addressing the evolving threat of terrorism. In particular, the GCTS ensures an integrated and balanced approach to counter-terrorism efforts, consistent with the rule of law and the protection of human rights. In this respect, I would like to underscore the relevance of the agreement reached during the 68th session, calling for the Strategy to be updated and revised.
I am pleased to note the time set aside during this session for the consideration of the agenda item on “The Rule of Law at the national and international levels”, with specific focus on “Sharing States’ national practices in strengthening the rule of law through access to justice”. The discussion will be important, as it will help advance the work on some aspects of the rule of law in relation to the post-2015 development agenda.
As you recall, world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to promoting the rule of law in the 2012 Declaration of the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly. In that document, Member States expressed their conviction that advancing the rule of law at the national and international levels, including through access to justice, is essential. The Declaration also recognized the important linkages between the rule of law and economic growth, sustainable development, the eradication of poverty and hunger, and the full realization of all human rights.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Throughout today’s session, you will consider two sets of articles of the International Law Commission (ILC), while next week you will have the opportunity to deliberate on the report of the Commission. Given the important role it plays, I expect your deliberations to underscore the relevance of the Commission’s contributions to the development of international law and its codification.
The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) continues to play an essential role towards formulating fair and harmonized rules on commercial transactions. Given the strong inter-linkages between trade and development, the work of UNCITRAL can greatly contribute to enhancing enabling environments for sustainable development.
I would also like to emphasize the importance of the Sixth Committee’s guidance to advance the discussion on the scope and application of the principle of universal jurisdiction. The United Nations Charter must serve as the guiding principle for those efforts, while the Working Group will undoubtedly provide a useful forum to further explore the scope and application of this principle.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As you consider the remaining items on the agenda over the next three weeks, I encourage you to continue with the spirit of consensus. My team and I stand ready to support the Committee, to ensure a successful outcome to its deliberations.
Thank you for your attention.
