Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 adopts the draft Nuclear Terrorism Convention. 1 April 2005. UN Photo.
Article 13, paragraph (1)(a), of the Charter of the United Nations mandates the General Assembly to initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose of encouraging the progressive development of international law and its codification. Pursuant to this mandate, the General Assembly has, on several occasions, established a number of ad hoc and special committees for the purpose of codifying and/or developing rules of international law on particular topics. The Codification Division of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs has served as the Secretariat of those committees. This website provides information on the current and recently completed work of some of those committees (established after 2000), including their mandate, background, working methods and outcomes.
See:The Role of Special and Ad Hoc Committees of the General Assembly in the Codification and Progressive Development of International Law / El papel de los Comités Especiales de la Asamblea General en la codificación y el desarrollo progresivo del derecho internacional,Lectureby Mr. Manuel Rama Montaldo(Audiovisual Library of International law)