YPP Legal Affairs

In accordance with Article 102 of the Charter and the relevant General Assembly Resolutions, every treaty and international agreement registered or filed and recorded with the Secretariat since 1946 is published in the United Nations Treaty Series. At present, the collection includes about 30,000 treaties reproduced in their authentic languages, together with translations into English and French, as necessary.

The Yearbook contains documentary materials of a legal character concerning the United Nations and related intergovernmental organizations (IGOs). Pursuant to resolution 1814 (XVII) of 18 December 1962, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to publish a juridical yearbook which would include certain documentary materials of a legal character concerning the United Nations and related intergovernmental organizations as presented in an outline annexed to the resolution. The United Nations Juridical Yearbook has since been published on an annual basis reviewing legal developments starting from 1963. In 1972, the General Assembly further refined the publication's outline, which since then has been made up of three substantive parts, divided into eight chapters covering different legal themes together with a fourth part containing an extensive bibliography.

The Model Legislative Provisions and the Legislative Guide on Public-Private Partnerships were prepared by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and adopted at its fifty-second session (Vienna, 8-19 July 2019). In addition to representatives of member States of the Commission, representatives of many other States and of several international organizations, both intergovernmental and non-governmental, participated actively in the preparatory work. The Model Legislative Provisions translate into legislative language the advice given in the recommendations contained in the Legislative Guide. The Model Legislative Provisions are intended to assist in the establishment of a legislative framework favourable to public-private partnerships (PPPs). The Model Legislative Provisions follow the corresponding notes in the Legislative Guide, which offer an analytical introduction with references to financial, regulatory, legal, policy and other issues raised in the subject area. The user is advised to read the Model Legislative Provisions together with the Legislative Guide, which provide background information to enhance understanding of the legislative recommendations. The Model Legislative Provisions deal with matters that it is important to address in legislation specifically concerned with PPPs. They do not deal with other areas of law that, as discussed in the Legislative Guide, also have an impact on PPPs. Moreover, the successful implementation of PPPs typically requires various measures beyond the establishment of an appropriate legislative framework, such as adequate administrative structures and practices, organizational capability, technical expertise, appropriate human and financial resources and economic stability.

The struggle for peace is an enduring one. More than a century ago, in 1899, the first International Peace Conference was held in The Hague to elaborate multilateral instruments for settling crises peacefully, preventing wars and codifying rules of warfare. It adopted the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes and established the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which began its work in 1902. Subsequently, in 1919, the League of Nations, conceived during the First World War, was established under the Treaty of Versailles “to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security”. While the League of Nations ceased activities after failing to prevent the Second World War, the need for peaceful resolution of conflicts through international collaboration and dialogue continued to grow.