Repertory of the Practice of the United Nations Organs.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, in his report to the 78th session of the General Assembly (A/78/296), praised the continued research cooperation between the United Nations and the Faculty of Law on the preparation of the Repertory studies. The report highlights the contribution of the Law Faculty in 2023 as follows:
“The well-established cooperation with the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa continued for the thirteenth consecutive year. During the period under review, the Faculty of Law contributed to the preparation of 10 studies.” (Paragraph 11)
“With regard to Supplement No. 11 (2010–2015), the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa has completed the research on and drafting of one study on Article 15 for volume II and two studies for volume III, one on Article 24 and one on Article 25.” (Paragraph 4)
“ Progress has been made during the period under review in relation to Supplement No. 12 (2016–2020), owing to the continued assistance of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa, which completed the research and drafting in relation to one study on Article 15 for volume II, four studies on Articles 36, 40, 42 and 54 for volume III, as well as one study on Article 92 and one study on Article 99 for volume VI.” (Paragraph 5)
The Repertory is a legal publication containing analytical studies of decisions of the Principal Organs of the United Nations under each of the Articles of the Charter of the United Nations. During the past 13 years, 91 studies for the Repertory have been prepared both in English and French, in collaboration with the Faculty of Law. In the spring of 2023, under the supervision of adjunct professor Saeid Mirzaei Yengejeh, 10 graduate and JD students prepared 10 studies on the above Charter Articles, covering the period from 2010 to 2020.
These studies cover several topics of the UN agenda, including, powers of the General Assembly in receiving and considering reports of other principal organs of the United Nations, powers of the Security Council as a principal organ which has the primary responsibility for maintenance of peace and security, including recommending appropriate mechanisms for peaceful settlement of disputes between states, as well as taking enforcement measures under chapter VII of the UN Charter, role of regional organizations in the maintenance of peace and security in close collaboration with the Security Council, role of the International Court of Justice in adjudicating disputes between states, and powers of the Secretary-General in bringing to the attention of Security Council any matter that in his view threatens international peace and security.
Congratulations to the following students whose names have been published on the United Nations Website in appreciation of their contributions to the UN publication:
Agyapong Reynolds Ofori, Ismaila Baba Ismaila, Srjan Baclija, Danten Coch, Loujain ElSahli, Edward Blanchard, Myka Colleman, Uzair Majeed and Michelle Rossy
Students can get involved in this partnership through the “Seminar on Documenting UN Practice", CML4108 and DCL 6121, which will be taught for the 14th consecutive year in a combined January-Winter session in 2024. Registration for the seminar is now open for graduate and upper year students. Interested students must submit their applications, along with their CVs to Professor Saeid Mirzaei Yengejeh (saied.mirzaei@uOttawa.ca).
Here are some testimonials from the students who contributed to the research project:
Nouha Chaouati
"I had the opportunity to conduct a study on article 41 of the United Nations Charter related to measures not involving the use of armed force.
This course improved my skills in various ways through the rigorous research, and the acquisition of a deeper knowledge about the practices of different organs of the United Nations Organization (in particular the Security Council and the General Assembly).
Furthermore, this study gave me greater insight into the extent of the political and legal consequences of conflicts on an international level, and the specificities of the United Nations’ role in maintaining international peace and security. This study alongside others proves that among chaos there are several measures not involving the use of armed force that could be part of the concretization of a positive change."
"Participating in the process of the codification of the practices of UN organs was truly a dream come true experience that fulfilled my desire as an international law student to be part of such important publications that will help academics and jurists in future.
I’m immensely grateful and thankful for Professor Saeid Mirzaei Yengejeh for his guidance and incredible assistance during this beautiful learning experience."
Conducting research for the United Nations is a dream for many students, and one that I was able to realize thanks to Professor Saeid Mirzaei Yengejeh's 'Documenting UN Practice' course.
Indeed, in addition to realizing this dream, I had the opportunity to learn more about the UN system and the texts it issues, which gave me a better understanding of how decisions are made for specific situations within UN institutions.
My work on the Security Council's interpretation of Article 39 of the UN Charter has enabled me to analyze the resolutions, statements and notes of the Presidents in order to better understand the international reality surrounding the determination of the existence of a threat to the peace, a breach of the peace or an act of aggression.
I am honoured and grateful that this study has been taken into account by the United Nations, and I thank Professor Yengejeh who, throughout the process, spared no effort to ensure that the students participating in this program were both satisfied with their course, and saw their efforts rewarded by this publication in the recent report of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Anneka Oh
"Professor Saeid’s Documenting UN Practice course gave me a practical and unique experience in international law and was a welcome complement to the Option in International Law that I took as part of my JD at uOttawa. The opportunity to prepare a study on Article 34 of the UN Charter for the Repertory helped me develop specific expertise in the interpretation and application of the provision and enriched my knowledge of the UN’s role in investigating international disputes and conflicts. An added bonus was the support and expertise of Professor Saeid, who having had a lengthy career in the UN, was extremely knowledgeable in answering all my questions and guided me through the process of preparing the study from start to finish."
Christiana Essie Sagay
As a Ph.D. student whose research focuses on transnational mobility and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, it was an extremely exhilarating experience for me to work on the interpretation and application of Article 14 of the United Nations Charter.
Working on this article of the Charter allowed me to parse out in greater depth the ways that the powers of the general assembly have been used in the recommendation of measures of peaceful measures in migration, but also for questions such as a global pandemic like COVID-19.
With the help of Professor Yengejeh, I was able to push the envelope and conduct far-reaching research on the work of the GA on these issues, which have in turn strengthened my understanding and commitment to addressing the many challenges of transnational mobility issues while simultaneously contributing to the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs.
Wafa Khan
Documenting UN Practice was the course I had highly anticipated taking the moment I entered law school, and to say it exceeded my expectations is an understatement. This collaborative effort pushed me outside my comfort zone when it came to legal research, writing and continuous editing to draft my publication on Article 50 of the UN Charter, which related to remediation of special economic problems arising from the enforcement of preventative measures undertaken by the United Nations Security Council against any state.
Under Professor Yengejeh's direct supervision, I received meaningful advice and mentorship to create a publication I was proud to submit. Professor Yengejeh's commitment to seeing his students excel and truly grasp the importance of the United Nations and their work is unparalleled. I cannot say enough positive things about this course and the unique experience it provides one as a law student.
Natasha Dood-Persaud
I am grateful to have been a part of the 2022 Winter Documenting UN Practice seminar and it is an honor to be recognized for the research conducted. Preparing a Study for the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs was a great learning experience. The research mandate provided a unique insight into UN operations and actions, and put various skills into practice, such as analytical thinking and legal writing. A very special thank you to Professor Saeid Mirzaei Yengejeh for his guidance and mentorship throughout the entire project!