text: Article 13,paragraph 1(a),oftheCharter, General Assembly resolution 174(11), andthesuccessive General Assembly resolutions convening, ontherecommendation of theSixthCommittee, subsidiary adhocorspecial committees orconferences of plenipotentiaries JaswellasGeneral Assembly resolutions 487(V),602(VI), 685(VII), 1291(XIII), 1451(XIV), 1506(XV),1814(XVII), 1816(XVII), 1968(XVIII), 2099(XX)and3006(XXVII). 9,32Thebasicaimofthesubprogramme istoimplement thepolicies governing the progressive development andcodification ofinternational lawandotherUnited Nations activities inthelegalfieldthrough theinitiation ofstudies onthe basisofrecommendations bytheGeneral Assembly. 9.33Therearevarious reasons whyStates aredemonstrating agrowing interest in thestrengthening anddevelopment ofinternational law,butthemostfundamental oneistheinternational community's awareness ofthebasicandimmediate link -8- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Librarybetween peaceandsecurity andtheeffective operation ofasystem oflegalnorms governing theconduct ofStates, including. firstandforemost. theprohibition of theuseofforceandthepeaceful settlement ofinternational disputes. Another factorthatisprompting Statestoattach moreimportance tothedevelopment of international lawistheirincreasing senseofinterdependence inthefaceofsuch phenomena asinternational terrorism. drug-trafficking andthedegradation ofthe environment. Athirdfactoristheintensification ofeconomic co-operation and theprogress ofscience andtechnology, whichbringcountries closer andcloser and create demands forthelegalregulation ofanever-widening circle ofhuman activities. Thetrendsoutlined abovemaybeexpected toshapetheactivities of theUnited Nations during the1990sinthefieldoftheprogressive development and codification ofinternational law. 9.34Uncertainty aboutthecontent ofexisting rulesinmanyareasof international law.thenon-written character ofmanyofthoserulesandthe necessity ofadjusting theminthelightofthecurrent needsoftheinternational community require. ingeneral, thattheelaboration andadoption byStates ofan instrument developing progressively'and codifying aparticular topicof international lawbepreceded byadetailed studyofthesubject concerned. A basicobjective underthesubprogramme isaccordingly thepreparation ofreports anddrafts forconsideration bytheGeneral Assembly, through theInternational Law Commission andspecial oradhocSUbsidiary bodies. onthesubject ofinternational legaltopics orquestions leading eventually totheelaboration andadoption of conventions orprotoco1s andotherinternational instruments (declarations, articles, etc.)atconferences 'ofplenipotentiaries orwithin theAssembly itself. 9.35Bytheirverynature. thetasksundertaken underthesubprogramme involve the preparation ofbackground documents. Thosedocuments mustpresent, analyse and evaluate thepractice ofStates andinternational organizations. national 1egis1ations. international andnational jUdicial decisions andtreaty provisions. together withtheteachings oflearned institutions orindividual publicists, as theessential elements ofinformation onthebasisofwhichthelawonagiven topicmaybecodified anddeveloped. Another objective ofthesubprogramme is accordingly toprovide legalbodieswiththenecessary research andbackground documentation fortheperformance oftheirrespective codification orotherlegal tasksatthevarious levels andstages oftheconsideration ofatopicorquestion. 9.36Sincetheprocess ofcodification ofinternational lawinvolves. amongother things, theformulation inwritten formofnon-written rulesofinternational law. namely. customary rules,disseminating theknowledge ofsuchrulesisadirectly related requirement. Theprocess ofcodification alsodemands awiderknowledge of theactivities oftheUnited Nations relating tothatprocess bybothMember States andthepublic inordertointensify interest andsupport andfacilitate the
analysis: This text appears to be discussing the development and codification of international law, which is a legal framework that governs the behavior of states and other international actors. The text highlights the importance of international law in maintaining peace and security, as well as its relevance in addressing contemporary challenges such as terrorism, drug trafficking, and environmental degradation. The text also mentions the need for research and background documentation to support the codification process, which suggests that it is a comprehensive and multifaceted topic.