The United Nations Office of Legal Affairs is a United Nations agency, established in 1946, that performs several key functions in the area of international law.

It is currently administered by Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and Legal Counsel of the United Nations Nicolas Michel.

Units

The Office consists of six units:

• Office of the Legal Counsel (OLC)
• General Legal Division (GLD)
• Codification Division (COD)
• Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS)
• International Trade Law Division (ITLD)
• Treaty Section (TREATY).

Treaties

After their adoption, Treaties as well as their amendments have to follow the official legal procedures of the United Nations, as applied by the Office of Legal Affairs, including signature, ratification and entry into force.

References

• Hans Corell: United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, in: Karel Wellens (ed.): International Law: Theory and Practice. Essays in Honour of Eric Suy, The Hague/Boston/London: Martinus Nijhoff 1998, pp. 305-322.

External links

• UN Office of Legal Affairs (OLA)
  • International Law - Action Plan
• Treaty Section (OLA)

de:Bereich Rechtsangelegenheiten fr:Bureau des affaires juridiques it:Ufficio delle Nazioni Unite per gli Affari Legali