The 54thsession of the International Law Commission was held inGenevafrom April 29 to June 7 and from July 22 toAugust 16, 2002.The Commission members for this session were elected by the 56thsession of the General Assembly of the United Nations, with their term of office being from 2002 to 2007.There were 12 new members including the Chinese member Xue Hanqin, and the rest were re-elected consecutively.The Chinese member Xue Hanqin and the Portuguese member Paula Escarameia were first women members since the establishment of the Commission more than 50 years ago.

The session focused its discussion on three topics: diplomatic protection, reservations to treaties and unilateral acts of States.The Commission also decided to add three new topics, which were respectively: responsibility of international organizations, shared natural resources and international liability for injurious consequences arising out of acts not prohibited by international law.Moreover, considering that along with the diversification of the forms of international legislation, the development of the special sphere of international law and the increase of international judicial organs, the basic system of the international law was receiving more and more challenges, the Commission decided to set about conducting a special-subject study on the fragmentation of international law.

Together with other members of the Commission, the newly elected Chinese member Xue Hanqin, by adopting a conscientious and responsible attitude, actively participated in the discussion of the relevant topics.