Legal Committee of the General Conference

The Legal Committee:
 

• Reports to the General Conference on legal matters
  
  Pursuant to Rule 35 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Conference, the Legal Committee considers:
  
  (a) proposals for the amendment of the Constitution and of the Rules of the General Conference;
  (b) agenda items referred to it by the General Conference;
  (c) appeals submitted by sponsors of draft resolutions to the General Conference that have been considered inadmissible by the Director-General under Rule 77 (draft resolutions relating to the Draft Programme and Budget);
  (d) legal questions submitted to it by the General Conference or any of its organs;
  (e) reports on conventions and recommendations transmitted to it by the General Conference.
   

• Acts as credentials committee
  
  Pursuant to Rule 35 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Conference, the Legal Committee examines and reports to the General Conference on the credentials of delegations of Member States and Associate Members, of representatives of the United Nations and the specialized agencies, and of observers sent by non-Member States and other intergovernmental organizations. It also examines and reports on the credentials of observers designated by international non-governmental or semi-governmental organizations admitted to the Conference.
   

• Makes recommendations on the interpretation of the UNESCO Constitution
  
  Pursuant to Rule 36 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Conference, the Legal Committee may be consulted on any question concerning the interpretation of the Constitution and of the rules and regulations. It may formulate an opinion or recommend to the Conference that any question concerning the interpretation of the Constitution be referred to the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion. In cases where the Organization is a party to a dispute, the Legal Committee may recommend to the Conference that the case be submitted to arbitration.