Annual Report 2011 - 2012

Assembly urged the States to intensify, where appropriate,
the exchange of information about facts related to terrorism
in order to avoid the dissemination of inaccurate or
unverified information. The UN General Assembly further
urged States to ensure full prosecution of nationals, or
persons in their territories, who funded, or financially
supported, terrorist acts. As regards the meeting of the ad
hoc Committee on Terrorism, it was decided that the
Committee would meet in April 2012, to continue the
elaboration of various provisions of the Comprehensive
Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), as well as
to consider the question of convening a high-level segment to
address global terrorism in a comprehensive and concerted
manner.
Elections of Members to the International Law Commission:
The elections for the term 2012-2016 were held on 17
November, 2011, at the UN Headquarters, New York,
during the 66th Session of the UN General Assembly. From
the Asian region, 13 countries, including India, had presented
candidatures, against eight seats allocated to the region, and
therefore it was a tough competition. As a result of tireless
efforts and proper handling of the Mission, the Indian
candidate got elected to the ILC.
Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations:
'The Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations
and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organisation' is
considering several proposals relating to the maintenance of
international peace and security; and coordination with other
committees/bodies that are involved in work related to the
maintenance of international peace and security, in particular
with regard to assistance to third States adversely affected by
sanctions. The Legal and Treaties Division prepared briefs
on issues before the Special Committee for use by the Indian
delegation at the 65th session of the UN General Assembly.
The General Assembly, after considering the report (A/65/
33) of the Special Committee on its work at its March 2010
session, adopted resolution 65/31. The Assembly has
requested the Special Committee to continue to consider
the subject as a priority with regard to assistance to third
States affected by the application of sanctions under the
UN Charter as well as improving its working methods towards
identifying widely acceptable measures for future
implementation. States have been called upon to make
voluntary contributions to the trust funds for the updating
of the Repertoire of Practice of the Security Council and for
the elimination of the backlog in the Repertory of Practice
of United Nations organs. India's stand over the years has
been that the Security Council should hold the primary
responsibility towards the affected third States as a part of
the sanctions imposing decisions. India has supported all
113
United Nations and International Organisations
efforts concerning the updating/publication of the
Repertoire of Practice of the Security Council, and Repertory
of Practice of United Nations organs.
Oceans and the Law of the Sea: At its 66th Session, the
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted two
resolutions, 66/37 and 66/38, on the agenda items about
'Oceans and Law of the Sea', and 'Sustainable fisheries,
including the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of
the Provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and
Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory
Fish Stocks, and related instruments', respectively. This
Division was actively involved in advising on various legal
issues which came up during the finalisation of the resolutions.
The 21st meeting of States Parties to the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea was held in New York
from 14-18 June, 2010. India is a State Party to the
Convention and participated in the meeting. The meeting
discussed the report on the work of the International
Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), including
administrative and budgetary matters; report of the
International Seabed Authority (ISA); and matters relating
to CLCS, including the workload of the Commission. In
view of the increased workload of the Commission on the
Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), it has been agreed
to extend the period of functioning of CLCS from 21 to 26
weeks a year, against the existing period of 15 weeks a year.
The Legal and Treaties Division also participated in the
meeting of the ad-hoc Working Group on Modalities for
the Implementation of the 'Regular Process for Global
Reporting and Assessment of the State of the Marine
Environment, including Social Economic aspects', held in
New York from 14-18 February, 2011, which focused interalia
on defining the specific scope and objectives and
modalities for implementing the first cycle of the Regular
Process in order to ensure their relevance and usefulness for
target audiences.
India became a State Party to the United Nations
Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its
three Protocols. The Convention is the main international
instrument in the fight against transnational organised crime.
It is supplemented by three Protocols, which target specific
areas and manifestations of organised crime: the Protocol
to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons,
Especially Women and Children; the Protocol against the
Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air; and, the
Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking
in Firearms, their Parts and Components, and Ammunition.
India also became a Party to the United Nations Convention