Prof. Dr. Bimal N. Patel, Professor of International Law, was elected to the UN International Law Commission (ILC) in 2021 with a historic 163 votes in the United Nations General Assembly. His commitment to international law and his approach to advancing international peace and security are deeply rooted in the Sanskrit principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—”the world is one family.”

Since the commencement of the quinquennium 2023–2027, Prof. Patel has made interventions on topics under consideration of the Commission, firmly grounded in state practice, with due regard to the representation of the principal legal systems of the world and aimed at bridging regional disparities.

On the topic of immunities of State officials from foreign criminal jurisdiction, Prof. Patel emphasized the importance of “the recognition of State practice, the preservation of friendly relations among States, the need to balance the principles of sovereign equality and accountability, and the imperative of maintaining international peace and security.” On the issue of sea-level rise in relation to international law, he reiterated “the notion of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam as a guiding principle in addressing global challenges”, and further elaborated on practical legal mechanisms to support affected States, with a particular focus on balancing the interests of developing countries. On topics related to the sources of international law, Prof. Patel emphasized that “the consent of States remains the cornerstone in the formation of international law” and expressed caution against the unwarranted expansion of general principles of law and subsidiary means. Currently, he serves as the Chair of the Working Group on Succession of States in Respect of State Responsibility and has submitted the report in accordance with the mandate provided by the Commission. He has also submitted inputs on state practice and bibliographies to special rapporteurs and chairs. In particular, on the topic of ‘Sea-level rise,’ the Co-Chairs of the Study Group found Prof. Patel’s paper on State practice in India to be highly informative.

Prof. Patel, recognizing the importance of UN peacekeeping in maintaining international peace and security, and supporting the efforts of States to end impunity for crimes committed against peacekeepers, introduced the topic “Legal Aspects of Accountability for Crimes Committed Against UN Peacekeepers” to the long-term programme of the Commission. On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the UN International Law Commission, the RRU Centre for International Law organized commemorative events in March and November 2024, bringing together current and former ILC Members, legal officers from governments, representatives from international organizations, academics, and judges of the International Court of Justice. Following these events and the publication of their outcomes as a book, Prof. Patel introduced a proposal titled “Survey of International Law in Relation to the Work of the Commission,” setting the roadmap for the next 25 years of the ILC. The aim is to evaluate the Commission’s role within the United Nations framework, its organizational structure, and its methods of work, thereby enhancing its influence and ensuring its outputs effectively address contemporary global challenges.

Throughout his work, Prof. Patel has consistently promoted multilingualism by delivering most of his statements in both French and English, while ensuring their publication in all UN languages to respect linguistic diversity. He has also been a strong advocate for working and study groups as methods of work, all aimed at enhancing representativeness in the study of the topic.

Prof. Patel is committed to promoting the engagement of the academic community in the work of the Commission. Since 2022, prior to each ILC session and during the session in Geneva, he briefs the academic community on the topics under consideration and welcomes their feedback, which is then integrated into his statements.. The growing engagement of academia, including interns from reputable national and international universities, reflects this commitment. In 2024, with the aim of supporting emerging scholars in the work of the ILC, he established a Trust Fund—funded solely from his personal resources—to promote international law studies and research, managed by the RRU Centre for International Law.