CYIL 2012

THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SIXTH COMMITTEE DURING THE 66 TH SESSION … effective remedies for the so-called “non-staff personnel” and prepare the Code of Conduct for the judges of both tribunals. For this purpose, the Working Group on the Administration of Justice was established under the Chairmanship of Ambassador Kriangsak Kittichaisaree of Thailand. On the basis of the proposals contained in the relevant UN reports, 100 the delegations finalized the above-stated Code of Conduct and amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the UN Appeals Tribunal. These documents were subsequently adopted as annexes to two resolutions coordinated by the Legal Advisor of Saudi Arabia. 101 Although this issue may be crucial for everybody working for the UN, due to the heavy agenda of the Sixth Committee, it cannot be followed closely by small countries with just a handful of its citizens working for the UN (like the Czech Republic). Another item on the agenda of the Sixth Committee that is related to the rule of law is the “United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law” (hereinafter the “Programme of Assistance”). The achievement of the rule of law at the international level is unthinkable without spreading knowledge on international law and that is exactly the purpose of the Programme of Assistance. It was established by the GA in 1965 102 in order to provide basic insight into international law, primarily to the diplomats from the newly independent States that started joining the UN in the sixties. After almost five decades of existence, the activities within the Programme of Assistance currently include the International Law Fellowship Programme, whose fellows attend every summer the courses at the Hague Academy of International Law, regional courses in international law, legal publications and, most importantly, the UN Audiovisual Library of International Law, accessible on the internet free of charge to the international law community worldwide. 103 In spite of ongoing problems with ensuring adequate funding, the Programme of Assistance has been a success story. The Czech Republic has been able to support it by its statement in the Sixth Committee 104 and to provide modest voluntary financial contribution even in 2011. The Programme is run by the Codification Division of the UN Office 100 Report of the SG on the amendments to the rules of procedure of the UN Dispute Tribunal and the UN Appeals Tribunal, UN Doc. A/66/86 and Add.1, Report of the Internal Justice Council on the administration of justice at the UN, UN Doc. A/66/158, Report of the SG on the administration of justice at the UN, UN Doc. A/66/275. 101 Resolution of the GA No. 66/106 of December 9, 2011, UN Doc. A/RES/66/106, Resolution of the 103 UN Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law (hereinafter the “Programme of Assitance”), Report of the SG, UN Doc. A/66/505. 104 Statement by Mr. P. Válek, Legal Adviser of the Czech Mission on Agenda Item 80, Programme of Assitance, October 14, 2011: “…The Czech Republic has always considered this Programme to be closely linked to another important agenda item of the Sixth Committee – “The rule of law at the national and international levels”, as there cannot be a universal compliance with international law without the knowledge of this subject. We see this Programme, therefore, as the core activity of the United Nations that strengthens the purposes and principles on which this Organization is based…” GA No. 66/107 of December 9, 2011, UN Doc. A/RES/66/107. 102 Resolution of the GA No. 2099(XX) of December 20, 1965.

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