The Case for a Convention on State Responsibility

2014 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 439-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence T. Pacht
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
International Law ◽  
Public Space ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
State Responsibility ◽  
Main Argument ◽  
The Public ◽  
International Law Commission ◽  
Law Commission ◽  
Do So

At the time of adopting the Articles on the Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts, in 2001, the International Law Commission recommended, inter alia, that the General Assembly of the United Nations consider the possibility of negotiating a convention on the basis of the Articles. On four occasions, since 2001, the member states in the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly have been divided on whether to do so. Nonetheless, the most recent such debate, held in 2013, revealed a strong undercurrent of support among the states for convening a diplomatic conference to negotiate a treaty. However, this trend is not reflected in much of what has been written and argued in the public space, which has been almost entirely in opposition to a convention. The main argument for such opposition has been that a treaty negotiation would set back the development of the law either through the adoption of a flawed text or through failure to reach agreement. The present article seeks to scrutinise the viability of such a prognosis, by both responding to the arguments made against a treaty negotiation and by offering some reasons for supporting the negotiation of a convention on the responsibility of states for internationally wrongful acts.

The Forty-First Session of the International Law Commission

1989 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 937-945 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen C. McCaffrey
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
International Law ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
State Responsibility ◽  
Peace And Security ◽  
The Status ◽  
International Liability ◽  
International Law Commission ◽  
Law Commission

The International Law Commission of the United Nations held its 41st session from May 2 to July 21, 1989, under the Chairmanship of Professor Bernhard Graefrath. The most noteworthy achievement of the session was the completion of work on the status of the diplomatic courier and the diplomatic bag not accompanied by diplomatic courier. The Commission referred this draft to the General Assembly with the recommendation that the Assembly convoke a diplomatic conference for the purpose of concluding a convention on the basis of the articles. Also at the 41st session, the Commission adopted three articles of the Draft Code of Crimes against the Peace and Security of Mankind and discussed reports on state responsibility, international liability for injurious consequences arising out of acts not prohibited by international law, jurisdictional immunities of states and their property, and the law of the non-navigational uses of international watercourses. A report on relations between states and international organizations was presented to the Commission but was not discussed for lack of time. Finally, the Commission once again devoted a number of meetings to reviewing its procedures and methods of work.

State Responsibility in the Light of the New Trends of International Law

1955 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 339-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. V. García-Amador
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
International Law ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
State Responsibility ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
International Law Commission ◽  
Regular Session ◽  
Law Commission

During its eighth regular session, the General Assembly of the United Nations considered “that it is desirable for the maintenance and development of peaceful relations between States that the principles of international law governing State responsibility be codified.” To this end, the Assembly requested the International Law Commission to undertake the codification of these principles. The Tenth Inter-American Conference, held in Caracas March 1–28, 1954, adopted a similar resolution.

The Forty-third Session of the International Law Commission

1991 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 703-709 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen C. McCaffrey
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
International Law ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
State Responsibility ◽  
Peace And Security ◽  
International Liability ◽  
International Law Commission ◽  
Law Commission

The forty-third session of the United Nations International Law Commission (ILC) was held in Geneva from April 29 to July 19, 1991, and was chaired by Ambassador Abdul Koroma of Sierra Leone. During the session, the last of the ILC’s current five-year term of office, the Commission adopted full sets of draft articles on three of the subjects on its agenda. It completed the second reading, or final adoption, of the draft on jurisdictional immunities of states and their property, and approved on first reading its articles on the law of the non-navigational uses of international watercourses, and the Draft Code of Crimes against the Peace and Security of Mankind. In its report to the General Assembly, the Commission recommended that the Assembly convene a diplomatic conference charged with concluding a convention on the basis of the draft articles on jurisdictional immunities. The drafts on watercourses and crimes were sent to governments for their comments, which the Commission requested they submit by January 1, 1993. The ILC will then give each of those drafts a second reading, taking into account the observations received from states. In addition to the progress made on these topics, the Commission considered reports on the three remaining subjects on its agenda: international liability for injurious consequences arising out of acts not prohibited by international law, relations between states and international organizations (second part of the topic) and state responsibility.

5 Rules of Attribution

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hobér Kaj
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
International Law ◽  
The State ◽  
State Responsibility ◽  
Final Version ◽  
Legal Principles ◽  
Form Part ◽  
Energy Charter Treaty ◽  
International Law Commission ◽  
Law Commission

This chapter focuses on the rules of attribution. The State is not responsible for all acts and omissions of its nationals, but only for those which can be attributed to the State. It is thus necessary to establish this link between the State and the person, or persons, committing an unlawful act or omission. The legal principles used to establish this link are usually referred to as rules of attribution. The rules of attribution form part of the law of state responsibility, which, to a large part, is reflected in the work of the International Law Commission (ILC) of the United Nations. At its fifty-third session in 2001, the ILC adopted its final version of the ILC Articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts. The ILC Articles are intended to cover all aspects of state responsibility under international law. The rules of attribution are laid down in Chapter II of the ILC Articles. From an Energy Charter Treaty perspective, Articles 4—8 are the most relevant ones. The central provision with respect to attribution is Article 4, which confirms the well-established principle of international law that the State is responsible for the acts of its own organs acting in the capacity of the State.

The Fortieth Session of the International Law Commission

1989 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen C. Mccaffrey
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
International Law ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
State Responsibility ◽  
Draft Code ◽  
Peace And Security ◽  
The Status ◽  
International Liability ◽  
International Law Commission ◽  
Law Commission

The International Law Commission of the United Nations held its 40th session from May 9 to July 29, 1988, under the Chairmanship of Ambassador Leonardo Díaz-González. The Commission adopted 6 articles of the Draft Code of Crimes against the Peace and Security of Mankind and 14 articles on the law of non-navigational uses of international watercourses. Substantial time was devoted to both international liability for injurious consequences arising out of acts not prohibited by international law and the status of the diplomatic courier and the diplomatic bag not accompanied by diplomatic courier. Reports on jurisdictional immunities of states and their property and state responsibility were introduced by the special rapporteurs for those topics but were not discussed by the Commission owing to lack of time. The remaining substantive item on the Commission’s agenda, relations between states and international organizations (second part of the topic), was not considered at this session. Finally, the Commission once again devoted substantial time to reviewing its procedures and methods of work.

Responsibility of States and International Organizations

2019 ◽  
pp. 598-612
Author(s):  
Pierre Bodeau-Livinec
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
International Law ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Current Status ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
State Responsibility ◽  
United Nations Convention ◽  
International Law Commission ◽  
Formal Status

Quite paradoxically given the importance of the topic in the system of international law, issues pertaining to responsibility of states and international organizations are not dealt with in treaties of universal character or “United Nations” treaties. So far, the General Assembly has merely taken note of the Articles on State Responsibility and the Articles on the Responsibility of International Organizations—respectively adopted by the International Law Commission (ILC) in 2001 and 2011—and refrained from taking any decision as to the final status of these texts. Three options are available: keeping the formal status quo, adopting the Articles as a General Assembly declaration, or using the text as a basis for a United Nations Convention on Responsibility. While the latter option would bring the Articles on state responsibility outside the realm of soft law, it could also have a “decodifying effect,” insofar that it could threaten the balance carefully designed by the ILC. Even though the 2001 Articles will most likely retain their current status, drafting a treaty on state responsibility could however prove useful.

scholarly journals The Requisite Rigour in the Identification of Customary International Law

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noora Arajärvi
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
International Law ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
Special Rapporteur ◽  
Customary International Law ◽  
United Nations General ◽  
United Nations General Assembly ◽  
International Law Commission ◽  
Law Commission

Over the last few decades, the methodology for the identification of customary international law (cil) has been changing. Both elements of cil – practice and opinio juris – have assumed novel and broader forms, as noted in the Reports of the Special Rapporteur of the International Law Commission (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016). This contribution discusses these Reports and the draft conclusions, and reaction by States in the Sixth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly (unga), highlighting the areas of consensus and contestation. This ties to the analysis of the main doctrinal positions, with special attention being given to the two elements of cil, and the role of the unga resolutions. The underlying motivation is to assess the real or perceived crisis of cil, and the author develops the broader argument maintaining that in order to retain unity within international law, the internal limits of cil must be carefully asserted.

United Nations. Report of the International Law Commission Covering the Work of Its Fourteenth Session, April 24-June 29, 1962

1963 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 190-267
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
International Law ◽  
General Assembly ◽  
General Assembly Resolution ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
International Law Commission ◽  
Law Commission

The International Law Commission, established in pursuance of General Assembly Resolution 174 (II) of 21 November 1947, and in accordance with its Statute annexed thereto, as subsequently amended, held its Fourteenth Session at the European Office of the United Nations, Geneva, from 24 April to 29 June 1962.

The Forty-Seventh Session Of The International Law Commission

1996 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-115
Author(s):  
Robert Rosenstock
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
International Law ◽  
State Responsibility ◽  
Draft Code ◽  
Peace And Security ◽  
State Succession ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
The Law ◽  
International Law Commission ◽  
Law Commission

The International Law Commission of the United Nations held its forty-seventh session from May 2 to July 20, 1995, under the chairmanship of Pemmaraju S. Rao of India. The Commission continued its work on existing topics and considered aspects of the Draft Code of Crimes against die Peace and Security of Mankind, state responsibility, and liability for injurious consequences arising out of acts not prohibited by international law. The Commission began work on the two new topics of “state succession and its impact on the nationality of natural and legal persons” (“nationality“) and “the law and practice relating to reservations to treaties” (“reservations“) and made a recommendation as to two additional topics for its future agenda.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document