UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SIXTH COMMITTEE (LXVIII Session, XI Meeting), OBSERVER STATUS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE UNIFICATION OF PRIVATE LAW IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY (UNIDROIT), 16 OCTOBER 2013.

On 16 October 2013, during the XI meeting of the Sixth Committee of the UN General Assembly, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Italy, Amb. Antonio Bernardini, submitted the draft resolution A/C.6/68/L.5 on the Observer Status for the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) in the General Assembly. Amb. Bernardini expressed support for the further development of the natural links between the Institute and the United Nations, in order to obtain greater mutual benefits and to lay the foundations for positive interactions between the two institutions. He drew the attention of delegations:

to the Explanatory Memorandum contained in Annex I to document A/68/141, which makes specific reference to the relevant constitutional document of the Organization and elaborates on the requisite criteria for granting the status of Observer in the General Assembly to UNIDROIT.

He then recalled that:

the activities of UNIDROIT are in areas of interest for the work of the UN General Assembly. The purpose of the Institute is to study needs and methods for modernizing, harmonizing and coordinating private and, in particular, commercial law between States and groups of States and to formulate uniform law instruments, principles and rules to achieve those objectives. In order to accomplish those goals, the Institute undertakes a variety of activities ranging from the development and adoption of international conventions, to the preparation of model laws, the elaboration of legal and contractual guides, principles or other instruments in the field of private and international commercial law, as well as the maintenance of a library, and scholarship and internship programmes and legal cooperation activities, promoting the Rule of Law.

The activities of the Institute advance in a practical manner many of the objectives and purposes of the United Nations, particularly as regards progressive codification and harmonization of law. The strong links that exist between the United Nations and the Institute date back to the origins of the United Nations, which for many years entrusted the Institute with the preparation of studies in various areas of private law, ranging from international transport to alimony obligations or the protection of cultural property. Subsequently, since the establishment of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), this cooperation has taken place mainly within the framework of the activities of the Commission. However, the mandate of the Institute also encompasses topics that fall outside the core mandate of the Commission and, thus, appears to justify an even broader relationship with the General Assembly.