Pro. Patel has served in various roles such as Director at the Gujarat National Law University and a member of the 21st Law Commission of India.
Professor Bimal Patel, Vice-Chancellor, National Defense University and a member of the Indian National Security Advisory Board, has been elected to the International Law Commission for a five-year term beginning January 1, 2023, in a tough election at the United Nations. ,
India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations TS Tirumurti thanked all UN member states for their overwhelming support to India’s candidature, tweeting, “Professor Bimal Patel @RakshaUni on top of the group for election to the International Law Commission Hearty congratulations for staying.”
Pro. Patel secured 163 votes out of 192 members present and voting at the United Nations General Assembly, topping the Asia-Pacific grouping that included candidates from China, South Korea and Japan.
In the Asia-Pacific grouping, there were 11 very strong candidates for 8 seats, leading to a vigorous contest.
“Professor of India Bimal Patel has been elected to the #ILC for a term of 5 years. Our contribution to #ILC will demonstrate our commitment to uphold the rules-based international order supported by #RuleOfLaw,” India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations tweeted on Friday soon after the election results were announced.
“A heartfelt gratitude to all those countries who reposed their faith in India’s candidate with the highest number of votes in the Asia-Pacific grouping,” the mission said.
India topped with 163 votes for Patel, followed by Thailand with 162 votes, Japan with 154 votes, Vietnam with 145 votes.
China could manage 142 votes, followed by South Korea with 140, Cyprus 139 and Mongolia 123.
Pro. Patel is a respected educationist, jurist and administrator and during his professional career spanning over three decades, he has served in various roles such as Director at the Gujarat National Law University and Member of the 21st Law Commission of India.
According to his profile on the National Defense University website, he has worked for 15 years in global organizations such as the United Nations Youth in The Hague, Netherlands, and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
The International Law Commission was established in 1947 by the General Assembly to carry out the Assembly’s mandate to “initiate studies and make recommendations for the purpose of encouraging the progressive development of international law and its codification”.
The statute of the International Law Commission provides that the commission shall consist of 34 members “who shall be persons of recognized qualification in international law.” The members of the Commission are to be chosen by the General Assembly from a list of candidates nominated by the governments of the member states of the United Nations.
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