General Assembly adopts series of resolutions on international legal matters

The United Nations General Assembly today adopted a series of resolutions recommended by its legal committee, including texts on human cloning, terrorism and protection of personnel on United Nations peacekeeping missions.

The Assembly kept the question of reproductive cloning of human beings on its agenda for another year by deciding to convene a working group of its Sixth (Legal) Committee from 28 September to 3 October 2003.

The Assembly also strongly condemned terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable by a resolution that urged its ad hoc committee to urgently continue elaborating a draft convention on international terrorism at its next meeting in March and April. The ad hoc committee was also urged to resolve outstanding issues impeding conclusion of an international treaty on nuclear terrorism. That committee has already successfully negotiated other anti-terror pacts.

In another action, the UN's main legislative body welcomed the work of the preparatory body for the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which had laid the groundwork for the Court's coming into being on 1 July. The Assembly took note of the report by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the Court, and of the proposed resumption of the first session of the Assembly of States Parties early next year, at which the ICC's judges and the prosecutor would be elected.

As for the protection of UN personnel in the field, the Assembly urged the Secretary-General to continue to seek to include key provisions of an international treaty on the safety of UN workers in agreements related to peacekeeping operations. One provision recommended the criminalization of attacks against these personnel.

Meanwhile, another resolution strongly condemned acts of violence against diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, as well as against parallel elements in intergovernmental organizations.