Sixth Committee, 20th plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session
Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its fifty-ninth session - Item 76 (A/81/17)
Administration of justice at the United Nations - Item 150 (A/81/176, A/81/292, A/81/161)
Agenda items · 281st session
Item 76
Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its fifty-ninth session
Item 150
Administration of justice at the United Nations
Source: United Nations (un.org, igov.un.org)
Speaking timeKanu (13.9%) · India (6.3%) · Cameroon (5.8%) + 28 more · Unattributed (0%)
Sixth Committee, 20th meeting of the 81st session. Agenda items taken up: “Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its fifty-ninth session - Item 76 (A/81/17)”; “Administration of justice at the United Nations - Item 150 (A/81/176, A/81/292, A/81/161)”. 28 speakers were heard, representing 27 delegations.
Points of disagreement
Algeria regretted that the Commission could not decide on the location of the headquarters of the Advisory Center on international investment dispute resolution, and underscored that the decision must be taken by consensus and guided by objective criteria.
Key points
Cameroon, on behalf of African Group, welcomed the progress achieved at the 59th session of the Commission, including on reform of investor-state dispute settlement under Working Group 3, digital trade, warehouse receipts and cross border insolvency.
Cuba, on behalf of a group of like-minded countries, underscored that no agreement or understanding was ever reached on voting rights of organizations that would allow them additional or separate voting rights, and that omitting the usual provision from the statute should not be considered as setting a precedent for the future.
Finland, on behalf of Nordic countries, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, reiterated support for the Commission's vital role in furthering rules-based cooperation in an economically interdependent world, and congratulated it on six decades of work as UNCITRAL marks its 60th anniversary.
Statement by statement · 24 speakers
🇦🇩 Andorra
Andorra fully supported the initiative to grant observer status to the Parliamentary Assembly of Francophonie under the General Assembly, and encouraged member states to grant it.
Andorra stated that Andorra, as a small state, is deeply committed to multilateralism and dialogue between nations, and that this initiative is of particular importance to it.
🇫🇷 France
France supported granting observer status in the General Assembly to the Parliamentary Assembly of Francophonie, and the adoption of the resolution put forward by Djibouti, which France co-sponsors.
France called for flexibility similar to that applied in the cases of the Interparliamentary Union and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean regarding the intergovernmental criterion, and stated that the Assembly's activities are in the interests of the General Assembly.
France welcomed the approval by Antitral at its 59th session of the draft supplementary provisions and the statute of the Advisory Centre on International Investment Dispute Resolution, and reiterated its desire to host a regional office of the centre in Paris.
France stated that France is taking the necessary actions with a view to signing the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, and reiterated its commitment to multilingualism in the work of Uncitral.
🇺🇸 United States
United States stated that the Parliamentary Assembly of La Francophonie does not appear to meet the eligibility criteria of Decision 49426, as it is comprised of parliaments and interparliamentary organizations rather than states, and that it was therefore not able to support the request for observer status.
United States urged member states to keep the eligibility criterion in mind when considering whether to sponsor future observer status requests, and underscored the need to reform the decision process for considering such organizations.
🇲🇦 Morocco
Morocco reaffirmed support for granting observer status to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie under the General Assembly of the UN, and welcomed the PAF's contributions to strengthening parliamentary diplomacy, promoting dialogue and cooperation, and consolidating the values of democracy, multilingualism and rule of law.
🇨🇲 Cameroon · on behalf of African Group
Cameroon, on behalf of African Group, welcomed the progress achieved at the 59th session of the Commission, including on reform of investor-state dispute settlement under Working Group 3, digital trade, warehouse receipts and cross border insolvency.
Cameroon, on behalf of African Group, welcomed the adoption of the UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Document, opened for signature in Accra, Ghana, in October 2026, and encouraged all member states to consider becoming parties to the Accra Convention.
Cameroon, on behalf of African Group, proposed that the status quo of rotating sessions between New York and Vienna be maintained, and said the request for observer status by the International Organization for Mediation, deferred to the 60th session, merits serious consideration.
🇨🇺 Cuba · on behalf of a group of like-minded countries
Cuba, on behalf of a group of like-minded countries, underscored that no agreement or understanding was ever reached on voting rights of organizations that would allow them additional or separate voting rights, and that omitting the usual provision from the statute should not be considered as setting a precedent for the future.
Cuba, on behalf of a group of like-minded countries, stated that nothing in the statute or the previous negotiations can be interpreted as granting any regional organization additional or separate voting rights, and that a regional economic integration organization may vote with a number of votes equivalent to its member states present.
Cuba, on behalf of a group of like-minded countries, requested that the position of the group be recorded in the report and the record of the meeting.
🇫🇮 Finland · on behalf of Nordic countries, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden
Finland, on behalf of Nordic countries, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, reiterated support for the Commission's vital role in furthering rules-based cooperation in an economically interdependent world, and congratulated it on six decades of work as UNCITRAL marks its 60th anniversary.
Finland, on behalf of Nordic countries, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, commended Working Group 3 for reaching the milestone of the draft statute of the Advisory Center on International Investment Dispute Resolution, now submitted to the General Assembly for adoption, and reaffirmed commitment to contribute actively to this work.
Finland, on behalf of Nordic countries, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, stressed the importance of finding balanced solutions in Working Group 5's work on applicable law in insolvency proceedings that take into account the diversity of systems and the range of interests involved.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
United Kingdom welcomed the progress made across reforms, particularly the supplementary provisions on the conduct of proceedings to resolve international investment disputes and the draft statute of the Advisory Centre on International Investment Dispute Resolution, both finalised and adopted by the Commission in July 2026.
United Kingdom stated that the United Kingdom contributed to discussions on enabling legal frameworks for paperless trade, presenting its approach to trade digitalization and its experience implementing the Electronic Trade Documents Act, and valued the work on an interoperable legal environment for paperless trade.
United Kingdom stated that the United Kingdom remained in agreement with the consensus view that the law of the jurisdiction where the main proceedings are located has priority in the first instance, and valued Working Group 5's work on cross border insolvency.
🇰🇷 Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea recognized UNSTRA's significant contributions to progressive harmonization, unification, and modernization of international trade law as it marked its 60th anniversary, and stated that Korea had remained steadfastly committed to the development and promotion of international legal standards since 2004.
🇲🇾 Malaysia
Malaysia commended the Commission's work in adopting the statute establishing the Advisory Center on International Investment Dispute Resolution, which it said would support states, particularly least developed countries and developing countries, in preventing and handling international investment disputes.
Malaysia welcomed the adoption of the text on arbitral awards and notices of arbitration in electronic form, in particular the clarification that awards in electronic form should not be refused recognition or enforcement solely on the ground that they are electronic.
🇨🇱 Chile
Chile welcomed the formal adoption of the statute of the Advisory Center on International Investment Dispute Resolution, seen as a concrete result of Working Group 3, and the adoption of supplementary provisions on conduct of proceedings in investment disputes.
Chile supported a flexible and pragmatic approach in Working Group four on contracts for the provision of data, to achieve a consensus text at the next session, and hoped work on digital platforms and private law would be a priority afterwards.
Chile reaffirmed its commitment to the Commission's mandate to promote the progressive harmonization of international trade law, and said it would hold a lecture at the law faculty of Chile University in March 2027.
🇿🇦 South Africa
South Africa welcomed the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, scheduled to open for signature in Accra, Ghana, on 26 October 2026, and thanked Ghana for hosting the ceremony.
South Africa stressed that investor state dispute settlement reform must provide effective protection for investors while preserving the ability of states to govern in the public interest, and that the cost of investment disputes is particularly significant for developing countries.
South Africa welcomed the Commission's finalization of the draft statute of the Advisory Center on International Investment Dispute Resolution, saying it must be accessible to states that need it most, with sustainable financing and fee arrangements reflecting differing capacity.
🇮🇳 India
India welcomed the two outcomes on investor state dispute settlement reform adopted by the Commission: the draft statute of the Advisory Center on International Investment Dispute Reform and the supplementary provisions on the conduct of proceedings.
India emphasized that implementation of the supplementary provisions should remain subject to the consent of the parties concerned, while preserving states' right to regulate and ensuring procedural fairness.
🇮🇱 Israel
Israel commended the Commission and the UNSATRAL Secretariat for their efforts over the past year, particularly the cost saving measures introduced by the Secretariat, and welcomed the brief introductions to non-legislative agenda items and the publication of highlights.
Israel welcomed the finalization of the instruments on electronic arbitration awards and electronic delivery of notices of arbitration under Working Group 2, and the adoption of the UNCITRAL supplementary provisions on the conduct of proceedings under Working Group 3.
Israel welcomed progress on the draft model law on applicable law in insolvency proceedings under Working Group 5, and further coordination with the HCCH on electronic commerce, stressing coherence, a clear division of work and avoidance of unnecessary duplication.
🇲🇻 Maldives
Maldives welcomed the finalization and adoption of the Supplementary Provisions on the Conduct of Proceedings to Resolve International Investment Disputes and the draft statute of the Advisory Center on International Investment Dispute Resolution, and looked forward to the statute's adoption and early operationalization.
Maldives welcomed the approval of the amendments to the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, the adoption of the Accra Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, and efforts to optimize UNCITRAL's working methods.
🇳🇬 Nigeria
Nigeria supported the Commission's recommendation that the General Assembly adopt a resolution on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Foncitral, and the adoption by the General Assembly at this session of the statute of the Advisory Center on International Investment Dispute Resolution.
Nigeria welcomed the adoption of supplementary provisions on the conduct of proceedings to resolve international investment disputes and the continued work of Working Group 3 on investor state dispute settlement reform, which should preserve the rights of states to regulate.
Nigeria welcomed the Commission's decision to retain the rotation of sections between New York and Vienna, and encouraged the Secretary to continue technical assistance and capacity building for developing countries.
🇩🇿 Algeria
Algeria commended the Commission for its progress at its fifty-ninth session, including the supplementary provisions on resolving international investment disputes, and welcomed the UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, due to open for signature in Accra Ghana on 26 October 2026.
Algeria regretted that the Commission could not decide on the location of the headquarters of the Advisory Center on international investment dispute resolution, and underscored that the decision must be taken by consensus and guided by objective criteria.
Algeria called for strengthened cooperation with regional organizations, in particular the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa, and underscored equal treatment of all six official languages across the Commission's activities.
🇸🇻 El Salvador
El Salvador noted that El Salvador deposited in 2025 its instrument of accession to the United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts, and has incorporated various UNCITRAL instruments, model laws, legislative guides and conventions.
El Salvador welcomed progress on recognizing arbitral awards in electronic format under the 1958 New York Convention, and on negotiable cargo documents, digital payments and operations secured with digital assets.
El Salvador welcomed the establishment of an advisory centre to support states, in particular developing countries, and noted that the decision on its headquarters will be considered by the General Assembly, with confidence that it can be reached by consensus.
🇦🇹 Austria
Austria welcomed the statute of the Advisory Center on International Investment Dispute Resolution and the supplementary provisions on the conduct of proceedings to resolve international investment disputes, as important elements of the ongoing reform of investor state dispute settlement.
Austria stressed that, with Working Group 3 in the final stages of its work, it was essential to maintain the momentum and to finalize the remaining instruments in 2027.
🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire welcomed the progress made by UNCITRAL in modernizing international commercial law, and in particular the opening for signature on October 20 sixth, 2026 in Accra Ghana of the UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, which it encouraged states to accede to and implement.
Côte d'Ivoire stressed that AI can greatly assist practitioners in certain tasks, but that vigilance is needed to maintain human control over the arbitration decision.
Côte d'Ivoire reaffirmed its candidacy to host one of the regional offices of the Advisory Center on International Investment Dispute Regulation in Africa.
🇵🇭 Philippines
Philippines welcomed the finalization of the Statute of the Advisory Center on International Investment Dispute Resolution, and supported an accessible, effective and financially sustainable center responsive particularly to the needs of developing and least developing countries.
Philippines underscored the importance of transparent and inclusive intergovernmental processes, stating that financial constraints should not compromise multilingualism, equitable geographic representation, or meaningful participation by developing countries.
🇨🇦 Canada
Canada welcomed the adoption of the package of texts aimed at facilitating the use of arbitral awards and notices of arbitration in electronic form, and the finalization of supplementary rules in Working Group 3, encouraging that Working Group to complete its work in 2027.
Canada emphasized the importance of selecting future work projects that address clearly defined legal problems, fall within the Commission's mandate and can produce practical global solutions, with careful prioritization given limited resources.
🇦🇲 Armenia
Armenia welcomed the report of the 59th session of the Commission and commended the progress achieved in the reform of investor state dispute settlement, including finalization of the draft statute of the advisory center and adoption of supplementary provisions on the conduct of proceedings.
Armenia reiterated its willingness to host the regional office of the Advisory Center, noting that Armenia hosted the second meeting in Yerevan last year.
Armenia stated that the government of Armenia stands ready to provide centrally located premises in Yerevan, cover the office's operational costs for the first year, and extend institutional support through the Office of the Representative on International Legal Matters.
🇲🇽 Mexico
Mexico welcomed the conclusion of the draft statute for the Advisory Center on International Investment Dispute Resolution and the supplementary provisions of UNSATRAL on conduct of proceedings to resolve international investment disputes.
Mexico supported the approval of the recommendation on the interpretation of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards regarding arbitral awards in electronic form, as well as the amendments to the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration.
Mexico stated that potential normative work on emerging digital economy issues should be rooted in a clearly identified legal need, a sufficient evaluation of existing practice, and an analysis of the viability of a legislative response, given current budgetary restrictions.
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