text: 9.5Incarrying outtheirrespective activities, theUnited Nations organs and bodiesfacedifferent legalproblems ranging fromquestions oflegalcompetence to moda1ities, fromtheuseoftermstotheformulation oftextsandfromquestions of entitlement torulesofprocedure (e.g.elections, conduct ofmeetings, making proposals, decision-making, etc.). Similarly, theSecretariat unitsincarrying outtheirmultidimensional activities alsoregularly encounter various legal questions involving international pUblicorprivate law,national legislations, internal administrative andinstitutional rulesandregulations, aswellasrules ofprocedure ofUnited Nations bodies. Whilemanyofthequestions arelinked closely tothepolitical, peace-keeping, humanitarian, economic orsocial activities oftheUnitedNations, othersrelatetotheprivileges andimmunities of theOrganization oritsmembers. 9.6Thereistherefore aneednotonlytoprovide legaladvice andservices to UnitedNations organs, bodies andSecretariat unitsbutalsotoensureuniformity -3- Digitized by Dag Hammarskjöld Libraryandconsistency insuchadvice andservices. Theymustbeprovided tounitsat Headquarters andintheregional offices, andtothoseinthefieldofoperation (e.g.thepeace-keeping forces). Furthermore, since1979,theOffice ofLegal Affairs hasbeenresponsible foralllegalservices re~uired bytheUnited Nations Development Programme (UNDP) andtheUnitedNations Chlldren' sFund(UNICEF). The LegalCounsel alsorepresents theSecretary-General beforetheInternational Court ofJustice andbefore theAdministrative Tribunal oftheUnitedNations. In addition, theOffice ofLegalAffairs protects theint~rests, privileges and immunities oftheOrganization byrepresenting it,asltdeemsappropriate, inany forumsinwhichsuchquestions havebeenraised. 9.7General legalservices aresimilarly provided toUnitedNations organs and Secretariat unitswithrespect tosuchmatters ascontractual andotherlegal relations withthirdparties, therightsandobligations ofthestaff(asawhole orindividually) andquestions ofliability, including thehandling ofclaims. 9.8Article 13,paragraph 1(a),oftheCharter oftheUnitedNations entrusts the General Assembly withthespecific taskofencouraging theprogressive development ofinternational lawanditscodification. Thattaskisbeingcarried outunder theaegisoftheInternational LawCommission, thesixthCommittee oftheGeneral Assembly andtheadhoccommittees oftheSixth Committee, whichtheAssembly establishes fromtimetotimeinordertoformulate andsystematize rulesof international lawinareasnotcovered bytheInternational LawCommission. In thatconnection, theGeneral Assembly, initsresolution 44/23of17November 1989, declared theperiod 1989-1999 theUnitedNations DecadeforInternational Law. 9.9Parallel totheworkinthefieldofpublic international law,theUnited Nations Commission onInternational TradeLawwascreatedbytheGeneral Assembly asthecorelegalbodyintheUnited Nations system forthepurpose ofharmonizing andunifying international tradelaw. 9.10Thoselegislative organsallrequire substantive services ranging from research, preparation ofreports andstudies, tothepublication ofjurisprudential materials intherelevant fields. Conferences convened undertheauspices ofthe United Nations fortheadoption oflegalinstruments promulgated bythose law-creating bodies alsoneedpreparation andservicing. 9.11Inrelation tothefunction ofpromoting theprogressive development and codification ofinternational law,theGeneral Assembly hasadopted various measures forthepurpose offurthering widerknowledge andappreciation of international law.Provisions arethusmadeintheprogramme forcarrying outsuch activities asseminars, training courses, fellowships~ advisory services of experts, pUblications oflegalmaterials andtranslatlonofmajorlegalworks. All theseareintended toassistintheteaching, study,dissemination andwider appreciation ofinternational law. 9.12Treaties between States, intergovernmental o:g~n~zations andotherentities areanimportant instrument fortheconductofactIVItIes andlegalrelations, and
analysis: This text appears to be discussing the legal aspects of the United Nations' activities, including the provision of legal services, the promotion of international law, and the development of international trade law. While it does not directly relate to economic development, humanitarian aid, or other specific categories, it seems to be a supporting framework for many of the UN's activities, including international trade, human rights, and peacekeeping.