How Well Do You Know Uncitral?

UNCITRAL, which stands for the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, was established in 1966. It was created by the United Nations General Assembly to promote the harmonization and unification of international trade law. Since its establishment, UNCITRAL has played a crucial role in developing and modernizing international trade law, contributing to the growth and stability of global commerce.

UNCITRAL is a subsidiary body of the General Assembly of the United Nations and as such, it reports to the General Assembly through the Sixth Committee. This means that UNCITRAL operates under the authority and supervision of the General Assembly and is accountable to it through the Sixth Committee. The Sixth Committee is responsible for legal matters within the General Assembly, making it the appropriate channel for UNCITRAL to report its activities and seek guidance or approval.

UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law) is not composed of all member states of the United Nations. It is a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly and consists of 60 member states elected by the General Assembly. Therefore, the statement is false.

The UNCITRAL Secretariat is seated in Vienna.

Renaud Sorieul is the correct answer because he is the current Secretary of UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law). He assumed this position in July 2019, succeeding Anna Joubin-Bret. As the Secretary, Sorieul plays a crucial role in supporting the work of UNCITRAL, which focuses on the harmonization and modernization of international trade law. His expertise and experience in the field make him well-suited for this role.

The Rotterdam Rules cover the topic of transport law. This means that the rules provide regulations and guidelines for the international carriage of goods by sea. They establish the rights and obligations of the parties involved in the transportation process, such as the carrier, the shipper, and the consignee. The rules aim to harmonize and modernize the legal framework for maritime transport, ensuring a more efficient and uniform system for international trade.

All of the mentioned entities, including UNCITRAL member-States, Observer States, Intergovernmental organizations, and International non-governmental organizations, participate in the drafting of UNCITRAL texts. This inclusive approach ensures that a wide range of perspectives and expertise are considered during the drafting process, leading to more comprehensive and balanced texts.

The statement is false because each country that enacts a model law is not called a signatory. A signatory refers to a country that signs and agrees to be bound by a particular treaty or agreement. In the context of model laws, countries may choose to adopt and enact them into their legal systems, but this does not necessarily make them signatories to any specific agreement. Therefore, the correct answer is false.

UNCITRAL, or the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, is not mandated to offer legal advice in specific disputes or to administer arbitrations. Instead, its main role is to promote the harmonization and unification of international trade law. UNCITRAL develops and promotes international legal instruments in areas such as international commercial arbitration, international sale of goods, and electronic commerce. However, it does not have the authority to provide legal advice or administer arbitrations in specific disputes. Therefore, the statement is false.

UNCITRAL has Working Groups on all of the following topics except International Interests in Mobile Equipment. The organization has working groups on Procurement, International Arbitration and Conciliation, Security Interests, and Insolvency. However, there is no specific working group dedicated to International Interests in Mobile Equipment.

The Convention on International Financial Leasing was not created by UNCITRAL. UNCITRAL, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, is responsible for the development and promotion of international trade law. The Rotterdam Rules, CISG (Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods), Hamburg Rules, and Model Law on Arbitration are all texts that have been created by UNCITRAL. However, the Convention on International Financial Leasing is not one of their creations.

As of September 2009, a total of 74 countries had become parties to the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). This indicates that these countries have agreed to abide by the rules and regulations set forth by the CISG when engaging in international sales transactions.

The correct answer is "A and C only". The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) and the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration are both examples of UNCITRAL legislative texts. The CISG provides a uniform framework for international sales contracts, while the Model Law serves as a template for countries to enact legislation on international commercial arbitration. The UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules, on the other hand, are procedural rules for conducting arbitral proceedings and are not considered legislative texts.

The correct answer is "All of the Above". This means that the membership of a working group consists of Legal Practitioners, all UNCITRAL Member States, and Legal Officers from UNCITRAL.