The Legal Value of the United Nations General Assembly’s Resolutions in the Interpretation of Treaty and Customary International Law

Abstract Resolutions passed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) carry considerable legal weight, making significant contributions to the development of international law. For example, the International Court of Justice sometimes refers to them to establish customary international rules. Additionally, the Court has used UNGA resolutions to reinforce its legal interpretations. This raises an interesting question about the legal significance of UNGA resolutions in interpreting both norms in treaty and customary international law. Since the powers of the General Assembly are confined to matters within the scope of the present Charter, it prompts the question of whether UNGA resolutions can be applied to interpret norms in treaties beyond the Charter. To address these inquiries, the article seeks to explore the implications of these resolutions in interpreting norms reflected in treaties and under customary international law.