A record number of consensus resolutions.

• Position: Sixth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly

Elaboration of a draft statute for an international criminal court should be undertaken by the International Law Commission "as a matter of priority as from its next session", stated the General Assembly on 25 November, acting on one of 13 texts recommended by its Sixth Committee Legal).

In adopting resolution 47/33 without a vote, the Commission was asked to present a progress report on the subject to the Assembly at its forty-eighth session.

In other action, the world body approved (47/32) the programme for the second term (1993-1994) of the UN Decade of International Law (1990-1999), and suggested holding a UN congress on public international law in 1994 or 1995. The Secretariat was asked to prepare a preliminary operational plan for such a congress.

Enhancement of cooperation between the UN and regional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security, the question of assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, and a proposal on UN rules for the conciliation of disputes between States were among the topics cited for review in 1993 by the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization (47/38).

The question of authorization for the Secretary-General to request advisory opinions from the international Court of justice (ICJ), due to its more controversial nature, was not expressly mentioned in the resolution, but included under "other specific proposals relating to the question of the peaceful settlement of disputes between States under consideration in the Special Committee".

Law and environment

In resolution 47/37, all States were urged to comply with international law as it related to the environment during war, become party to relevant international conventions and incorporate appropriate provisions into their military manuals. The Assembly also expressed deep concern over illegal damage to natural resources, including the destruction of hundreds of oil-well heads and the release of crude oil into the sea during recent conflicts.

Acts of violence against diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, as well as personnel and officials of international...