The UIHJ Becomes an Observer to UNCITRAL
The UIHJ has been invited to become an “observer” to the work of UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law)
Sue Collins, member of the board of the UIHJ
UNCITRAL is the core legal body of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law; A legal body with universal membership specializing in commercial law reform worldwide for over 40 years. UNCITRAL's business is the modernization and harmonization of rules on international business. Trade means faster growth, higher living standards, and new opportunities through commerce.
The Commission is composed of sixty member States elected by the U.N. General Assembly. Membership is structured to be representative of the world's various geographic regions and its principal economic and legal systems. The 60 member States currently include 14 African States, 14 Asian States, 8 Eastern European States, 10 Latin American and Caribbean States and 14 Western European and other States.
An important part of the mandate of UNCITRAL is to coordinate the work of organizations active in the field of international trade law, both within and outside the United Nations system, in order to encourage cooperation between them, avoid duplication of effort and promote efficiency, consistency and coherence in the modernization and harmonization of international trade law. In recent years there has been a growing number of rule-making bodies developing texts in areas of law that affect international trade, making UNCITRAL's coordination function increasingly important.
To implement its mandate, UNCITRAL maintains close links with international and regional organizations, both intergovernmental and non-governmental, that are active participants in the work of UNCITRAL, and in the field of international trade law in order to facilitate the exchange of ideas and information.
Sue Collins, UIHJ Board member, attended the 21st working session of UNCITRAL's Security Interests working group in New York City, May 14th - 18th, 2012. The Security Interests working group's task is the creation of a Security Rights Registry Guide and a Technical Guide on the Implementation of the Security Rights Registry Guide. The session in New York was dedicated to the near completion of its Draft Technical Legislative Guide on the Implementation of the Security Rights Registry Guide to be presented to the United Nations Commission for adoption. The working group will then ask for permission to work on a model law for countries to follow, if needed, when establishing laws in their respective countries concerning a registry of movable property.
Over the last 24 years, UNCITRAL has completed major international texts on the sale of goods, transport, dispute resolution, procurement & infrastructure development, international payments, electronic commerce and insolvency law.
