Sixth Committee (Legal) — 80th session
Protection of persons in the event of disasters (Agenda item 86)
The Sixth Committee will revert to its consideration of agenda item 86, “Protection of persons in the event of disasters”, at the resumed session to be held from 6 to 10 April 2026.
- Authority: resolution 79/128
- List of speakers
Documentation
- Draft articles on the protection of persons in the event of disasters, and commentaries
- A/C.6/80/L.14 — Draft resolution "United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters" [see also: statement of financial implications]
Summary of work
Background (source: A/80/100)
At its seventy-first session, the General Assembly, under the item entitled “Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its sixty-eighth session”, decided to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-third session an item entitled “Protection of persons in the event of disasters” (resolution 71/141).
At its seventy-ninth session, the Assembly decided to elaborate and conclude a legally binding instrument on the protection of persons in the event of disasters, without prejudice to the legal effects of any particular provisions contained therein, by the end of 2027 at the latest, at the dates and location and in accordance with the modalities to be determined by the General Assembly at its eightieth session. The Assembly also decided that the Sixth Committee should resume its session for up to five days by the end of April 2026 at the latest, in order to prepare a consolidated text including the draft articles and the proposals submitted by Governments in accordance with paragraph 6 of the resolution, within the framework of a working group of the Committee. The Assembly invited Governments to submit to the Secretary-General, no later than 31 December 2025, proposals for amendments to the draft articles, with a view to preparing the consolidated text that would serve as the basis for the negotiations of the legally binding instrument, and requested the Secretary-General to submit a compilation of all the proposals received to the working group (resolution 79/128).
Consideration at the eightieth session
The Sixth Committee considered the item at its 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 38th meetings, on 14, 15 and 16 October, and 21 November 2025 (A/C.6/80/SR.14, 15, 16, 17 and 38).
During the plenary debate on this item, statements were made by the representatives of Cameroon (on behalf of the African Group), Colombia (on behalf of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)), the European Union (also on behalf its member States (the candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia, as well as Armenia and Monaco aligned themselves with the statement)), Belize (on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Thailand (on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)), the Bahamas (on behalf of the Core Group of States), Sweden (on behalf of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Sweden)), New Zealand (on behalf of Canada, Australia and New Zealand (CANZ)), Guinea-Bissau (on behalf of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (Angola, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe and Timor-Leste)), Oman (on behalf of the Arab Group), the United States of America, Germany, France, the Philippines, Slovenia, Ireland, El Salvador, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Afghanistan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Brazil, Morocco, Mexico, India, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Senegal, Indonesia, Nigeria, Lebanon, Thailand, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Romania, Portugal, Myanmar, Jordan, Togo, Singapore, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Chile, Malaysia, Zambia, the Syrian Arab Republic, Algeria, Hungary, the Russian Federation, Bulgaria, the Maldives, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, the Congo, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Cameroon, Egypt, Colombia, Greece, Chad, Cyprus, Haiti, Panama, the observer of the Observer State of Palestine, the representatives of Cabo Verde, Cuba, Angola, Mozambique, Iraq, Guinea, Vanuatu and Nepal.
The representatives of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction made statements.
Statements were also made by the observer for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Delegations welcomed further discussion on the item in the Sixth Committee and expressed appreciation for the work of the International Law Commission and the Special Rapporteur on the topic. Delegations also welcomed the resolution of the General Assembly from last year to elaborate and conclude a legally binding instrument on the protection of persons in the event of disasters.
Delegations underscored the importance of the agenda item and the need for the international community to address the topic, taking note of the increasing frequency and severity of natural and human-made disasters and recognizing the role of climate change in exacerbating disasters. Several delegations spoke about recent experiences either as an affected State or as an assisting State. Reference was also made to the disproportionate impact of disasters in certain States with low-lying coastlines. Some delegations highlighted that developing states contributing the least to climate change have to endure the worst of its consequences, including climate-related disasters. Some delegations expressed concerns that unilateral coercive measures create obstacles for effective disaster response.
Some delegations commented on specific aspects of certain draft articles. Several delegations called for the adoption of clearer definitions, especially regarding the definition of disaster. In that sense, several delegations supported a broad definition of disasters, covering both natural and human-made disasters. Several delegations emphasized the importance of human rights, human dignity and the applicable humanitarian principles when addressing the impact of disasters. The importance of attention to the particularly vulnerable and disproportionately affected groups was emphasized. Delegations referred to the importance of disaster risk reduction, risk management, prevention and preparation. While some delegations were of the view that the draft articles struck an adequate balance between the rights and obligations of the affected and assisting States, others considered that the area needed improvement. Delegations emphasized the importance of the principles of the sovereignty of States and non-interference in the internal affairs of States, as well as the central role of the affected State. Several delegations emphasized the need for the draft articles to strike an appropriate balance between safeguarding the sovereignty of the affected State, international cooperation as well as ensuring respect for human rights. While delegations stressed that the consent of the affected State for the provision of external assistance should be required, a view was expressed that there was a need to contemplate the possibility of providing assistance in the absence of such consent. The important role of other assisting actors, including the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, was acknowledged. Several delegations emphasized the importance of the principle of solidarity. The view was expressed that the main focus of the potential instrument should be practical and operational aspects of disaster relief. Reference was made to the need to prioritize capacity building, technical assistance and the mobilization of resources to tackle disasters.
A number of delegations observed that despite the existence of soft law instruments and bilateral treaties on mutual assistance, the legal instruments on the topic remained limited, leaving a gap in international law, and did not cover the entire cycle of response to a disaster and, accordingly, a universal legal framework was needed. Several delegations commended the draft articles as an exercise in the codification and progressive development of international law, but some delegations stressed the need for a cautious approach towards creating new legal rights and obligations. Several delegations referred to existing regional and international soft law instruments and initiatives on disaster risk management, including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (resolution 69/283). The view was expressed that any future international convention on the basis of the draft articles should complement the existing legal frameworks and be coherent with the rules of international humanitarian law. Delegations emphasized the importance of international cooperation in response to disasters and welcomed the exchange of good practices and relevant information. Many described relevant national policies and legal frameworks.
Several delegations called for an open, inclusive, transparent, structured, time-bound and efficient process, allowing delegations and stakeholders to engage in meaningful debates. Delegations generally welcomed the work of the Working Group on Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters and expressed their intention to engage constructively in the dialogue on the draft articles on the protection of persons in the event of disasters and on any future action thereon.
The resumed session
Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 79/128 of 4 December 2024, the Committee decided to establish a Working Group on the protection of persons in the event of disasters during its resumed session scheduled for 6 to 10 April 2026, to prepare a consolidated text including the draft articles and the proposals submitted by Governments, within the framework of a working group of the Committee. The Working Group shall be open to all States Members of the United Nations and the relevant observers to the General Assembly. Amb. Enrique A. Manalo (Philippines) was elected as the Chair of the Working Group.
Archived videos and summaries of plenary meetings
14th meeting (14 October 2025, 3:00pm – 6:00pm) | Summary
15th meeting (15 October 2025, 10:00am – 1:00pm) | Summary
16th meeting (15 October 2025, 3:00pm – 4:00pm) | Summary
17th meeting (16 October 2025, 10:00am – 1:00pm) | Summary
38th meeting (21 November 2025, 10:30am – 1:00pm) | Summary
Action taken by the Sixth Committee
At its 38th meeting, on 21 November 2025, the representative of Jamaica introduced and orally revised the draft resolution A/C.6/80/L.14, on behalf of Bahamas (The), Bangladesh, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands (Kingdom of the), Norway, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Thailand, Uruguay, Zambia and the State of Palestine, and announced that Afghanistan, Armenia, Bulgaria, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Indonesia, Latvia, Lithuania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa and Timor-Leste had joined in sponsoring the draft resolution.
The Chair of the Committee announced that the Russian Federation had withdrawn its proposal for amendments to draft resolution A/C.6/80/L.14 contained in document A/C.6/80/L.24.
The Secretary of the Committee made a statement regarding the financial implications of draft resolution A/C.6/80/L.14 entitled “Protection of persons in the event of disasters” revised, in accordance with rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly.
At the same meeting, the Committee adopted draft resolution A/C.6/80/L.14, without a vote. The representative of the Bahamas (also on behalf of Bangladesh, Colombia, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Jamaica, Nigeria and Thailand), Canada (also on behalf of Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Portugal, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern and the European Union), the Russian Federation, Singapore, China, Mexico, the European Union (also on behalf of its member States) and the Islamic Republic of Iran made statements in explanation of position after adoption of draft resolution A/C.6/80/L.14, as orally revised.
Under the terms of the draft resolution, the Assembly would decide to convene the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters, to meet for three weeks from 25 January to 12 February 2027 in Manila, and, if necessary, for a further two weeks in August 2027, to elaborate and conclude a legally binding instrument on the protection of persons in the event of disasters, without prejudice to the legal effects of any particular provisions contained therein.
The Assembly would also decide to convene a preparatory committee for the Conference, to meet from 31 August to 4 September 2026, to refer the consolidated text including the draft articles and the proposals submitted by Governments, prepared at the resumed session of the Sixth Committee held in accordance with resolution 79/128, to the Conference, to decide on the question of the participation of stakeholders other than those referred to in paragraph 9, based on a list prepared by the Secretariat, with due regard to the principles of transparency and equitable geographical representation, and whose work is relevant to the Conference, and to discuss the organization and methods of work of the Conference, including the rules of procedure, with a view to making recommendations thereon to the Conference, taking into account the importance of promoting consensus in the Preparatory Committee and on the final results of the work of the Conference, and would request the Secretary-General to prepare proposals, and to bring the proposals and the list referred to above to the attention of Member States well in advance for their consideration and to the Preparatory Committee, and would decide that, upon completion of its mandate, the Preparatory Committee shall report directly to the Conference.
The Assembly would refer the consolidated text to the Conference for its consideration, together with the commentaries to the draft articles prepared by the International Law Commission, as well as the written comments and observations of Governments, all the views expressed in the debates of the Sixth Committee on this topic, while noting the report of the working group of the Sixth Committee convened at the seventy-seventh and seventy-eighth sessions, and the recommendation of the Commission.
The Assembly would decide, inter alia, that the Conference and the Preparatory Committee shall be open to all States Members of the United Nations and members of the specialized agencies, and would request the Secretary-General to invite those States to participate in the Conference. The Conference and the Preparatory Committee would also be open to observers having received a standing invitation to participate in the sessions and the work of the General Assembly, and to non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council in accordance with the provisions of Council resolution 1996/31 of 25 July 1996 as observers.
The Assembly would recognize the importance of ensuring the availability of adequate resources to ensure the widest possible and effective participation in the Conference, and, accordingly, would invite Member States, international financial institutions, donor agencies, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations and natural and juridical persons to make earmarked financial contributions, and authorize the Secretary-General to disburse such funds to assist developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, in attending the Conference.
The Assembly would decide that the Sixth Committee shall resume its session from 6 to 10 April 2026, within the framework of a working group of the Committee, in accordance with resolution 79/128. The Assembly would also decide to include in the provisional agenda of its eighty-first session an item entitled “United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters”.
Subsequent action taken by the General Assembly
The agenda item entitled “United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Protection of Persons in the Event of Disasters” will be considered at the eighty-first session (2026).
