1990s declared UN Decade of International Law.

The General Assembly on 17 November declared the period 1990-1999 as the United Nations Decade of International Law, thus heeding a growing world-wide recognition of the need to strengthen the rule of law in international relations.

The Assembly stated (44/23) that the Decade should promote acceptance of and respect for the principles of international law; promote means and methods for the peaceful settlement of disputes between States, including resort to and full respect of the International Court of Justice; encourage the progressive development and codification of international law; and encourage the teaching, study, dissemination and wider appreciation of international law.

The Secretary-General was asked to begin work on a programme of action for the Decade, including the possibility of holding a third international peace conference or other suitable international conference at its end.

The Assembly on 4 December also condemned as criminal and not justifiable "all acts, methods and practices of terrorism wherever and by whomever committed", and called on all States to refrain from organizing, instigating, assisting or participating in terrorist acts in other States. Resolute measures to eliminate international terrorism and its underlying causes were asked.

The immediate and safe release of all hostages and abducted persons, wherever and by whomever they were being held, was also asked. Concern was expressed over the growing and dangerous links between terrorist groups, drug traffickers and their paramilitary gangs, which resorted to all types of violence.

The Assembly also welcomed efforts by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to promote universal acceptance of international air-security conventions, welcoming the recent adoption of the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports Serving International Civil Aviation. Also welcomed was the adoption by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) of the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation and the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf.

The item on the UN Law Decade was discussed in plenary, while the terrorism resolution was 1 of 13 texts on legal issues adopted by the world body on the recommendation of its Sixth Committee (Legal).

Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, the German Democratic Republic, Poland and the USSR submitted a proposal to establish within the UN a fact-finding body to deal with acts of international terrorism, and a centre on problems of international terrorism.