Working Group III: Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform

50^th session 20-24 January 2025, Vienna

49^th session 23-27 September 2024, Vienna

• A/CN.9/1194 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its forty-ninth session (Vienna, 23–27 September 2024) - advance copy
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.243 - Annotated provisional agenda
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.239 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft statute of a standing mechanism for the resolution of international investment disputes
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.240 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Annotations to the draft statute of a standing mechanism for the resolution of international investment disputes
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.241 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Submission from the Government of Switzerland
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.244 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft provisions on procedural and cross-cutting issues
  • Corrigendum to the draft provisions on procedural and cross-cutting issues (A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.244 and A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.245) (unofficial document, English only)
  • Updated compilation of IIA provisions and arbitration rules related to procedural and cross-cutting issues (unofficial document, English only)
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.245 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Annotations to the draft provisions on procedural and cross-cutting issues
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.246 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft multilateral instrument on ISDS reform

Comments on the procedural and cross-cutting issues

• The Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA) (English only)

48^th session 1-5 April 2024, New York

• A/CN.9/1167 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its forty-eighth session (New York, 1-5 April 2024)
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.237 - Annotated provisional agenda
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.238 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft statute of an advisory centre on international investment dispute resolution
  • Budget and financing of an advisory centre – A sample (unofficial document, English only)
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.239 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft statute of a standing mechanism for the resolution of international investment disputes
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.240 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Annotations to the draft statute of a standing mechanism for the resolution of international investment disputes
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.241 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Submission from the Government of Switzerland
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.235 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft guidelines on prevention and mitigation of international investment disputes
  • Revised version of A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.235 (unofficial document, English only)  / mark-up version
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.242 - Summary of the inter-sessional meeting on investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) reform submitted by the Government of Belgium

47^th session 22-26 January 2024, Vienna

• A/CN.9/1161 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its forty-seventh session (Vienna, 22-26 January 2024)
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.234 - Annotated provisional agenda
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.231 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft provisions on procedural and cross-cutting issues
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.232 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Annotations to the draft provisions on procedural and cross-cutting issues
  • Compilation of IIA Provisions and Arbitration Rules Related to Procedural and Cross-Cutting Issues (unofficial document, English only)
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.233 - Summary of the inter-sessional meeting on investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) reform submitted by the Government of Singapore
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.235 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft guidelines on prevention and mitigation of international investment disputes
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.236 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft statute of an advisory centre
  • Budget and financing of an advisory centre – A sample (unofficial document, English only)

Comments on the advisory centre

• Colombia (English only)
• UNCTAD (English only)
• Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) (English only)
• Catharine Titi & Katia Fach Gómez (English only)

Comments on the procedural and cross-cutting issues

• Argentina (Spanish only)
• Colombia (English only)
• Israel (English only)
• Singapore (English only)
• Viet Nam (English only)
• Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama (English only)
• Africa Group (English only)
• European Union and its Member States (English only)
• OECD (English only)
• ICSID (English only)
• CCSI, IIED and South Centre (English only)
• ITA (English only)
• CCSI, IIED, IISD and South Centre (English only)

Comments and reference materials on international investment dispute prevention and mitigation

• Argentina (Spanish only)
• Brazil (English only)
• Jamaica (English only)
• Republic of Korea (English only)
• Viet Nam (English only)
• European Union and its Member States (English only)
• Enabling Foreign Direct Investment in the Renewable Energy Sector (English only)
• OHADAC Conflict Management Committee Rules (English only)
• CIL (English only)

46^th session 9-13 October 2023, Vienna

• A/CN.9/1160 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its forty-sixth session (Vienna, 9–13 October 2023) 
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.229 - Annotated provisional agenda
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.230 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft provisions on the establishment of an advisory centre on international investment law
  • A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.212/Add.1 - Advisory Centre
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.231 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft provisions on procedural and cross-cutting issues
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.232 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Annotations to the draft provisions on procedural and cross-cutting issues
  • Compilation of IIA Provisions and Arbitration Rules Related to Procedural and Cross-Cutting Issues (unofficial document, English only)

45^th session 27-31 March 2023, New York

• A/CN.9/1131 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its forty-fifth session (New York, 27–31 March 2023)
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.225 - Annotated provisional agenda
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.226 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft provisions on mediation
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.227 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft guidelines on investment mediation
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.228 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft legislative guide on investment dispute prevention and mitigation
  • Compilation of best practices on investment dispute prevention and mitigation (unofficial document, English only)
• A/CN.9/1130 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its forty-fourth session (Vienna, 23-27 January 2023)
  • Proposed revisions regarding articles 3, 4 and 11
  • A/CN.9/WG.III/XLV/CRP.2 - Proposed revisions to the draft codes of conduct for arbitrators and judges
  • Draft code of conduct for arbitrators in international investment dispute resolution and commentary (work in progress, unofficial document, English only)
  • Draft code of conduct for judges in international investment dispute resolution and commentary (work in progress, unofficial document, English only)
• A/CN.9/1129 - Report of Working Group II (Dispute Settlement) on the work of its seventy-seventh session
  • Note 21. Early dismissal and preliminary determination
  • UNCITRAL Notes on Organizing Arbitral Proceedings (2016)

44^th session 23-27 January 2023, Vienna

• A/CN.9/1130 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its forty-fourth session (Vienna, 23-27 January 2023)
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.222 - Annotated provisional agenda
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.223 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft Codes of Conduct and Commentary
  • Text for the Commentary to the Code of Conduct for Judges (unofficial document, English only)
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.224 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Appellate mechanism 

43^rd session 5-16 September 2022, Vienna

• A/CN.9/1124 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its forty-third session (Vienna, 5-16 September 2022)
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.215 - Annotated provisional agenda
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.212 - Advisory Centre
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.212/Add.1 - Advisory Centre
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.213 - Standing multilateral mechanism: Selection and appointment of ISDS tribunal members and related matters
  • Cost and financing of a permanent multilateral body (unofficial document, English only)
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.216 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft Code of conduct
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.217 ­- Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft provisions on mediation
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.218 ­- Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft guidelines on investment mediation
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.219 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Draft provisions on procedural reform
  • Compilation of selected procedural provisions in recent IIAs (unofficial document, English only)
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.220 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Assessment of damages and compensation
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.221 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS): Multilateral instrument on ISDS reform
  • A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.194 - Multilateral instrument on ISDS reform
  • Comments from experts (unofficial document, English only)
• Submission from New York International Arbitration Center (NYIAC) on Article 4 of the Code of Conduct (unofficial document, English only)
• Letter from the chair of Working Group III to member States of UNCITRAL (April 2022)
• Letter from the chair of Working Group III to member States of UNCITRAL (September 2022)

42^nd  session 14-18 February 2022, New York

• Letter from the chair of Working Group III to member States of UNCITRAL
• A/CN.9/1092 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its forty-second session (New York, 14-18 February 2022) 
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.211 - Annotated provisional agenda
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.208 - Draft code of conduct: Means of implementation and enforcement  
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.209 - Draft Code of Conduct 
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.212 - Advisory Centre
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.212/Add.1 - Advisory Centre
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.213 - Standing multilateral mechanism: Selection and appointment of ISDS tribunal members and related matters
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.214 - Summary of the inter-sessional meeting on investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) reform submitted by the Government of the Republic of Korea

41^st  session 15-19 November 2021, Vienna

• Letter from the chair of Working Group III to member States of UNCITRAL 
• A/CN.9/1086 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its forty-first session (Vienna, 15-19 November 2021)
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.207 - Annotated provisional agenda
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.208 - Draft code of conduct: Means of implementation and enforcement 
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.209 - Draft Code of Conduct 
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.210 - Summary of the inter-sessional meeting on investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) reform submitted by the People’s Republic of China 

Resumed 40 ^th session 4-5 May 2021, Vienna

• Letter from the chair of Working Group III to member States of UNCITRAL 
• A/CN.9/1054 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its resumed fortieth session (Vienna, 4 and 5 May 2021)
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.205 - Annotated provisional agenda 
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.206 - Workplan to implement investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) reform and resource requirements

40 ^th session 8-12 February 2021, Vienna

• Letter from the chair of Working Group III to member States of UNCITRAL 
• Information sheet for delegations
• A/CN.9/1050 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its fortieth session
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.200 - Annotated provisional agenda
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.201 - Draft code of conduct
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.202 - Appellate mechanism and enforcement issues
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.203 - Selection and appointment of ISDS tribunal members

39 ^th session 5-9 October 2020, Vienna

• Letter from the chair of Working Group III to member States of UNCITRAL 
• Information sheet for delegations

• A/CN.9/1044 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its thirty-ninth session 
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.198 - Annotated provisional agenda
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.170 - Shareholder claims and reflective loss
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.190 - Dispute prevention and mitigation - Means of alternative dispute resolution
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.191 - Interpretation of investment treaties by treaty Parties
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.192 - Security for cost and frivolous claims
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.193 - Multiple proceedings and counterclaims
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.194 - Multilateral instrument on ISDS reform 

Submission from Governments

• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.156 - Submission from the Government of Indonesia
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.159 - Submission from the European Union and its Member States
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.159/Add.1 - Submission from the European Union and its Member States 
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.161 - Submission from the Government of Morocco
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.162 - Submission from the Government of Thailand
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.163 - Submission from the Governments of Chile, Israel and Japan
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.164 - Submission from the Government of Costa Rica
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.171 - Submission from the Government of Brazil
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.173 - Submission from the Government of Colombia
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.174 - Submission from the Government of Turkey
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.175 - Submission from the Government of Ecuador
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.176 - Submission from the Government of South Africa
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.177 - Submission from the Government of China
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.178 - Submission from the Government of Costa Rica
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.179 - Submission from the Government of the Republic of Korea
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.180 - Submission from the Government of Bahrain 
  • Submission from the Government of Bahrain (longer version, English only)
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.181 - Submission from the Government of Mali
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.182 - Submission from the Governments of Chile, Israel, Japan, Mexico and Peru 
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.183 - Summary of the third inter-sessional regional meeting on ISDS reform submitted by the Government of the Republic of Guinea
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.186 - Submission from the Government of Kuwait 
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.187 - Submission from the Government of Kazakhstan
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.188 - Submission from the Government of the Russian Federation 
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.188/Add.1 - Submission from the Government of the Russian Federation
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.195 - Submission from the Government of Morocco
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.196 - Submission from the Governments of The Netherlands, Peru and Thailand
  • Scoping Study: “Securing Adequate Legal Defense in Proceedings under International Investment Agreements”
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.197 - Submission from the Government of Turkey
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.199 - Submission from the Government of Burkina Faso
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.204 - Submission by the Government of Morocco

ISDS Reform: On-line Resources and Contributions

• Additional resources / On line resources and contributions / contributions since the Resumed 38th session

39 ^th session 30 March - 3 April 2020, New York 

Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the 2020 March, April and May sessions of UNCITRAL Working Groups I, III, IV, V and VI had to be postponed. Alternative arrangements were put in place, which allowed for progress to be made on the working papers scheduled for consideration at those sessions.

Resumed 38 ^th session 20-24 January 2020, Vienna

• A/CN.9/1004/Add.1 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its resumed thirty-eighth session 
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.184 - Annotated provisional agenda
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.185 - Appellate and multilateral court mechanisms
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.169 - Selection and appointment of ISDS tribunal members

38 ^th session 14-18 October 2019, Vienna

• A/CN.9/1004* - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its thirty-eighth session
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.165 - Annotated provisional agenda
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.166 - Reform options
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.166/Add.1 - Reform options (Tabular presentation)
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.167 - Background information on a code of conduct 
  • Compilation of information on codes of conduct part 1
  • Compilation of information on codes of conduct part 2
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.168 - Advisory Centre 
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.169 - Selection and appointment of ISDS tribunal members
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.170 - Shareholder claims and reflective loss
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.172 - Third-party funding

37 ^th session 1-5 April 2019, New York

• A/CN.9/970 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its thirty-seventh session
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.155 - Annotated provisional agenda
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.156 - Submission from the Government of Indonesia
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.157 - Possible reform of ISDS - Third-party funding 
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.158 - Possible reform of ISDS - Information on options for implementing a work plan
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.159 - Submission from the European Union and its Member States
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.159/Add.1 - Submission from the European Union and its Member States 
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.160 - Summary of the second inter-sessional regional meeting on ISDS reform submitted by the Government of the Dominican Republic
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.161 - Submission from the Government of Morocco
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.162 - Submission from the Government of Thailand
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.163 - Submission from the Governments of Chile, Israel and Japan
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.164 - Submission from the Government of Costa Rica

36 ^th session 29 October - 2 November 2018, Vienna

• A/CN.9/964 - Report of of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its thirty-sixth session
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.148 - Annotated provisional agenda
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.149 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) 
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.150 - Possible reform of ISDS - Consistency and related matters
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.151 - Possible reform of ISDS - Ensuring independence and impartiality on the part of arbitrators and decision makers in ISDS
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.152 - Possible reform of ISDS - Arbitrators and decision makers: appointment mechanisms and related issues
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.153 - Possible reform of ISDS - Cost and duration
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.154 - Summary of the first intersessional regional meeting on ISDS reform submitted by the Government of the Republic of Korea

35 ^th session, 23-27 April 2018, New York

• A/CN.9/935 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its thirty-fifth session 
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.144 - Annotated provisional agenda
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.145 - Submissions from the European Union
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.146 - Submissions from International Intergovernmental Organizations on appointment of arbitrators
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.147 - Submission by the Government of Thailand

34 ^th session, 27 November - 1 December 2017, Vienna

• A/CN.9/930/Rev.1 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its thirty-fourth session - Part I
• A/CN.9/930/Add.1/Rev.1 - Report of Working Group III (Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform) on the work of its thirty-fourth session - Part II
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.141 - Annotated provisional agenda
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.142 - Possible reform of investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS)
• A/CN.9/WG.III/WP.143 - Submissions from International Intergovernmental Organizations