The elections for determining 34 members of the United Nations (UN) International Law Commission (ILC) to serve in the period of 2017 and 2021 were held in the UN General Assembly on 3 November 2016.

During the elections in which 51 nominees comprising of prominent people in the field of international law competed, Turkey’s candidate Dr. Nilüfer Oral, Member of Law Faculty of İstanbul Bilgi University, was elected as a member to the Commission by receiving 144 of the votes.

Most recently represented during the membership of former Ambassador Mehmet Güney between 1992 and 1996 in ILC, Turkey has gained the opportunity to be represented in the Commission after more than 20 years by the election of Dr. Oral to this duty.

Established in 1947 with the aim of developing international law and adapting it to our day, the Commission works on the issues such as diplomatic protection, disputes arising from varying interpretations of agreements, responsibilities of international organizations, fair sharing of common natural resources as well as responsibilities of the countries stemming from acts sometimes crossing their borders.

With her works in the fields of international maritime and environmental law, international articles of her published regarding various global issues from climate change to energy security, and her experience in the works on doctrine and implementation in the field of international law sought for the members of the ILC, Dr. Nilüfer Oral will make valuable contributions to the activities of the Commission.