Sierra Leone has concluded a landmark tenure as Chair of the 59th Session of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), with the Commission adopting several historic reforms aimed at strengthening international trade law and improving access to global dispute resolution mechanisms.
The session, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 29 June to 10 July 2026, was chaired by H.E. Dr. Michael Imran Kanu, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations. The meeting produced significant outcomes as UNCITRAL prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary.
Among the most notable achievements was the completion of reforms to the investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) system. Delegates finalized the draft Statute establishing the Advisory Centre on International Investment Dispute Resolution, which will now be submitted to the United Nations General Assembly for adoption. The Commission also approved the UNCITRAL Supplementary Provisions on the Conduct of Proceedings to Resolve International Investment Disputes, marking a major step towards making international investment arbitration more accessible and affordable, particularly for developing countries.
The Commission also made substantial progress in modernizing international arbitration for the digital era. It adopted a recommendation on interpreting the New York Convention concerning arbitral awards issued in electronic form, approved revisions to the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, and endorsed an additional note to the UNCITRAL Notes on Organizing Arbitral Proceedings. These reforms are expected to strengthen legal certainty and promote the use of digital technologies in international arbitration.
Looking to the future, member states agreed on an ambitious work programme covering several emerging areas of international trade law. The Commission approved future work on dispute resolution in the digital economy, consolidation of e-commerce legal texts, paperless trade, digital payments, digital platforms, secured transactions involving digital assets, insolvency law, public procurement, and automated contracting.
During the session, delegates also paid tribute to the late H.E. Ms. Julia Emma Villatoro Tario of El Salvador, who served as Chair of the Commission’s 58th session, recognizing her valuable contributions to the advancement of international trade law.
UNCITRAL also announced that the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents will open for signature in Accra, Ghana, on 26 October 2026, marking a significant milestone for Africa. In addition, the Commission will commemorate its 60th anniversary with events worldwide from July 2026 to July 2027, culminating in a global celebration in Vienna on 17 December 2026.
Sierra Leone’s successful chairmanship of the 59th session underscores the country’s growing influence in international diplomacy and reflects its commitment to multilateral cooperation, the harmonization of international trade law, and the promotion of a more inclusive global trading system.
