Tackling a wide variety of topics today — from international trade law to the administration of justice at the United Nations — the Sixth Committee (Legal) concluded with a consideration of measures to ensure the safety of diplomatic premises and personnel.
“The serious challenge that we confront today is no longer the lack of legal frameworks and rules, but rather a weakness of enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance”, observed the representative of Bahrain, speaking for the Gulf Cooperation Council. To illustrate, she pointed to cross-border attacks in her region, as well as cyberthreats and incitement on social media — all of which pose risks to diplomatic representatives. Further, as these direct and indirect threats have significantly increased the burden on receiving States, she stressed that rules governing diplomatic relations must be respected.
“The defence of diplomacy begins by guaranteeing the protection, security and safety of diplomatic missions and their representatives”, noted the representative of the European Union, in its capacity as observer. Any threat or attack against these premises is unacceptable; nevertheless, he observed that such acts continue in situations of armed conflict. Recalling that the bloc’s diplomatic presence has been affected — and, at times, deliberately attacked — he urged receiving States to take all appropriate protection measures, including continuous risk assessments, to ensure adequate prevention and protection.
On this, Belgium’s representative said that her country’s experience as a host State for several international organizations and diplomatic missions has taught that this responsibility goes beyond purely physical protection. It implies closeknit cooperation between federal and local authorities, as well as intelligence, police and security services, and Brussels has employed threat analysis, institutional coordination and tailored operational responses. “Aside from these protection measures, it is also important to create an environment of trust in which foreign representatives can discharge their duties”, she added.
Speakers Support Informal Justice System
“For small and developing States, the credibility of the UN rests on whether the Organization applies to its own personnel the standards of fairness and accountability that it promotes among its members”, observed the representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis, speaking for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). She therefore stressed that the UN’s internal justice system must be independent, impartial, accessible and provide timely remedies. She also expressed support for informal justice resolution and welcomed efforts by the Office of the UN Ombudsman and Mediation Services to handle 2,201 cases and conduct 127 mediations in 2025.
However, Zambia’s representative said that the UN’s liquidity crisis has occasioned a corresponding decline in the quality of representation as well as a delay in the disposal of the cases. Looking ahead to 2027, he said that the Organization’s constricted budget would continue to “impede the optimal administration of justice”. In that regard, he welcomed the recommendation of the UN’s Internal Justice Council to allocate adequate resources to the UN Ombudsman so that the informal justice system can operate in a client-oriented and efficient manner.
Informal dispute resolution remains the most effective path in many instances, concurred the representative of the United States, who added that the results delivered by the informal system “saved staff time and saved the Organisation money”. He therefore supported the Internal Justice Council’s recommendation that no further consideration be given to a judicial mediation mechanism, even as a pilot programme. Also stressing that timelines remain essential, he observed: “Justice delayed is unfair to staff and costly for the Organization.”
Discussion on UN Trade Law Commission Concludes
The harmonization of international trade law must foster cooperation between different rules and regulations without undermining State autonomy, said Panama’s representative. He also emphasized that dispute-settlement reform must lead to a more balanced system that both protects investors’ legitimate rights and ensures the independence and impartiality of decision-makers. To that end, he said that the future Advisory Centre on International Investment Dispute Resolution could reduce asymmetries in legal and institutional capacities and guarantee inclusive participation.
On that, Haiti’s representative urged, as work continues to harmonize international trade law, that attention be paid to the needs of developing countries — particularly those whose institutional, technical and financial capacities remain limited. “The aim”, he said, “should not just be to produce shared norms and standards but also to enable States to understand them, to implement them and to fully benefit from them whilst respecting their national priorities.” He also pointed to the need to reform investor-State dispute resolution.
Relatedly, the representative of Indonesia welcomed the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) text concerning the conduct of proceedings to resolve international investment disputes. “We value their flexible, stand-alone character, which allows States to apply them by agreement”, he said. He also noted that the UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents will soon open for signature in Accra, which could “enhance inter-island connectivity, logistics efficiency and trade financing through a single negotiable document”.
Commission’s Work Important amidst Fragmented Trade
He added: “At a time of growing fragmentation in global trade, UNCITRAL’s role matters more than ever.”
Saudi Arabia’s representative concurred, noting that UNCITRAL’s work to develop the rules governing international trade contributes to creating a stable, transparent environment for investment and trade while considering the needs and capacities of States. For his part, Japan’s representative welcomed UNCITRAL’s project to take stock of developments relating to dispute resolution in the digital economy, noting that his Government contributed the necessary funds for its implementation.
Also in the digital sphere, the representative of Singapore welcomed UNCITRAL’s adoption of texts concerning the recognition and enforcement of electronic arbitral awards, as well as the use of electronic arbitration notices. Greater use of electronic communications in arbitration can enhance the efficiency of arbitration proceedings and ensure that arbitration texts remain fit for purpose, he said.
And, commending UNCITRAL’s work on the legal aspects of paperless trade, the representative of the Russian Federation noted that this will help consolidate the experience of various States towards a comprehensive legal instrument on digital trade transformation. More so, it will provide a coherent, consistent and useful guide for implementation that will increase UNCITRAL’s role as a leading forum for electronic trade law.
“Since its inception, UNCITRAL has proven itself as a prestigious multilateral forum to draft high-quality legal instruments, which are universal in nature”, he observed.