About UNCITRAL

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. UNCT!A"#s business is the modernization and
harmonization of rules on international business.
Trade means faster growth$ higher living standards$ and new opportunities through
commerce. n order to increase these opportunities worldwide$ UNCT!A" is
formulating modern$ fair$ and harmonized rules on commercial transactions. These
include%
Conventions$ model laws and rules which are acceptable worldwide
"egal and legislative guides and recommendations of great practical value
Updated information on case law and enactments of uniform commercial law
Technical assistance in law reform pro&ects
!egional and national seminars on uniform commercial law
A 'uide to UNCT!A"% (asic facts about the United Nations Commission on
nternational Trade "aw
)acts about UNCT!A" leaflet

The *ecretariat of the United Nations Commission on nternational Trade "aw
+UNCT!A", provides certain information for -ember *tates that it does not post on
the public UNCT!A" website%
UNCT!A"% nformation for -ember *tates

.rocurement services
The UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration
/01
was
prepared by UNCT!A"$ and adopted by the United Nations Commission on
nternational Trade "aw on 20 3une 0456. n 2007 the model law was amended$ it
now includes more detailed provisions on interim measures.
The model law is not binding$ but individual states may adopt the model law by
incorporating it into their domestic law +as$ for e8ample$ Australia did$ in the
nternational Arbitration Act 0494$ as amended,.
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The model law was published in :nglish and in )rench. Translations in all si8 United
Nations languages now e8ist.
/;1
Note that there is a distinct difference between the UNCT!A" Model Law on
nternational Commercial Arbitration +0456, and the UNCT!A" Arbitration Rules.
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<n its website$ UNCT!A" e8plains the difference as follows% =The UNCT!A"
-odel "aw provides a pattern that law>ma?ers in national governments can adopt as
part of their domestic legislation on arbitration. The UNCT!A" Arbitration !ules$
on the other hand$ are selected by parties either as part of their contract$ or after a
dispute arises$ to govern the conduct of an arbitration intended to resolve a dispute or
disputes between themselves. .ut simply$ the -odel "aw is directed at *tates$ while
the Arbitration !ules are directed at potential +or actual, parties to a dispute.=
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References
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UNCITRAL - United Nations
Commission on International Trade
Law
The United Nations Commission on nternational Trade "aw +UNCT!A", is the
core legal body of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law$
which mandate is to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law
of international trade.
The New Gor? Convention was prepared by the United Nations prior to the
establishment of UNCT!A" in 0474. Nevertheless$ promotion of the New Gor?
Convention is an integral part of the Commission#s programme of wor?.
There are a number of categories of UNCT!A" publications on the New Gor?
Convention%
!ecommendations
Commission *essions
Dor?ing 'roup *essions
ColloEuia
Another important UNCT!A" te8t is the 0456 UNCT!A" -odel "aw on
nternational Commercial Arbitration +amended in 2007,$ designed to assist *tates in
reforming and modernizing their laws on arbitration so as to ta?e into account the
particular features and needs of international commercial arbitration.
The UNCT!A" Arbitration !ules provide a comprehensive set of procedural rules
upon which parties may agree for the conduct of arbitral proceedings arising out of
their commercial relationship and are widely used in ad hoc arbitrations as well as
administered arbitrations. The !ules cover all aspects of the arbitral process$
providing a model arbitration clause$ setting out procedural rules regarding the
appointment of arbitrators and the conduct of arbitral proceedings$ and establishing
rules in relation to the form$ effect and interpretation of the award.
The original UNCT!A" Arbitration !ules were adopted in 0497 and have been used
for the settlement of a broad range of disputes$ including disputes between private
commercial parties where no arbitral institution is involved$ investor>*tate disputes$
*tate>to>*tate disputes and commercial disputes administered by arbitral institutions.
n 2007$ the Commission decided that the UNCT!A" Arbitration !ules should be
revised in order to meet changes in arbitral practice over the last thirty years. The
revision is aimed at enhancing the efficiency of arbitration under the !ules and does
not alter the original structure of the te8t$ its spirit or drafting style.
The UNCT!A" Arbitration !ules$ as revised$ have been effective since 06 August
2000. They include provisions dealing with$ amongst others$ multiple parties
arbitration and &oinder$ liability$ and a procedure to ob&ect to e8perts appointed by the
arbitral tribunal. A number of innovative features contained in the !ules aim to
enhance procedural efficiency$ including revised procedures for the replacement of an
arbitrator$ the reEuirement for reasonableness of costs$ and a review mechanism
regarding the costs of arbitration. They also include more detailed provisions on
interim measures. t is e8pected that the !ules$ as revised$ will continue to contribute
to the development of harmonious international economic relations.