The Legal Liaison
As an integral part of the Office of the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), the Legal Liaison Office provides advice on all legal matters arising within UNOG and United Nations funds and programmes in Geneva, in close cooperation with the Office of Legal Affairs at Headquarters.
The core functions of the Legal Liaison Office are as follows:
Providing advice to the Director-General of UNOG
Dealing with the Permanent Mission of Switzerland on host country matters
Answering legal questions from the UNOG Administration, departments and services, and United Nations funds and programmes
Coordinating with the Legal Advisers of the Geneva-based United Nations family organizations
Participating in various panels and commissions
Cooperating with permanent missions
LLO deals with permanent missions on politically sensitive matters arising from participation of government and civil society representatives at United Nations meetings and conferences, in particular:
- The Commission on Human Rights
- Press conferences
- Public information sessions
- Governing boards and councils of specialized agencies meeting at the Palais des Nations.
Liaison with the Office of Legal Affairs in New York
Organizing and conducting the International Law Seminar
Providing administrative support to the International Law Commission
LLO manages the budget of the International Law Commission and provides day-to-day logistical assistance to the members and the secretariat of ILC, with regard to travel, daily subsistence allowance, insurance matters, etc.
Pursuant to Article 13, paragraph 1 (a), of the Charter of the United Nations, the General Assembly, by resolution 174 (II) of 21 November 1947, established the International Law Commission (ILC) and approved its statute.
The Commission has as objective the promotion of the progressive development of international law and its codification. It consists of 34 members who are persons of recognized competence in international law. The Commission meets annually for a 12-week split session between the months of May and August, and reports to the General Assembly, which considers its reports annually. The Assembly provides guidance to the Commission on its programme of work through annual resolutions on the reports of the Commission. The Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs provides substantive servicing of the Commission.