OUTCOMES OF UNITED NATIONS OPEN-ENDED INFORMAL CONSULTATIVE PROCESS

ON OCEANS AND THE LAW OF THE SEA FOCUS OF DISCUSSIONS, 17-19 JUNE

NEW YORK, 17 June (Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea) -- At a meeting at United Nations Headquarters in New York, which will last three days, from 17 to 19 June, countries will hold in-depth discussions for the first time since the establishment of the United Nations Open-Ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (the “Consultative Process”), on the implementation of the outcomes of the Consultative Process, including a review of its achievements and shortcomings in its first nine meetings.

Discussions at the tenth meeting of the Consultative Process will be facilitated by the first part of the annual report of the Secretary-General on oceans and the law of the sea, which is available as document A/64/66, provides information on the establishment of the Consultative Process and an overview of its functioning, including a summary of the outcomes of its meetings; reviews how those outcomes have generally been incorporated in the relevant General Assembly resolutions and what subsequent major actions have been taken; and summarizes the views that have been expressed on the achievements and shortcomings of the Consultative Process.

In the report the Secretary-General notes that: “The importance and contribution of the Consultative Process to the General Assembly’s annual review of ocean affairs has been consistently highlighted during the meetings of the Consultative Process.” And that “[t]he contribution of the Consultative Process to strengthening the annual debate of the General Assembly on oceans and the law of has also been confirmed by the General Assembly.”  The report also highlights that there is room for improvements and enhancements, both substantive and procedural.

All contributions to the report by States and intergovernmental organizations have been posted in extenso on the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea website at: http://www.un.org/Depts/los/general_assembly/contributions64.htm. 

Additional submissions were made by the Group of 77 and China on: “Taking stock: tenth year review of the achievements and shortcomings of the Informal Consultative Process” (document A/AC.259/19) and by Nigeria (A/AC.259/18).

Background

In 1999, the General Assembly established the United Nations Open-Ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea for three years, in order to facilitate its annual review of developments in ocean affairs and the law of the sea (resolution 54/33).  The mandate of the Consultative Process has been extended three times by the General Assembly for in 2002 and 2005 by resolutions 57/141 and 60/30, respectively and in 2008, by its resolution 63/111.  At its sixty-fifth session in 2010, the effectiveness and utility of the Consultative Process will be considered once more.

Each year, the General Assembly decides what topic/s the Consultative Process should address in order to formulate some agreed consensual elements with an emphasis on identifying areas where coordination and cooperation at the intergovernmental and inter-agency levels should be enhanced, to be suggested to the Assembly for consideration in its annual resolutions on oceans and the law of the sea and sustainable fisheries.  Issues that have been considered in the past can be found at: http://www.un.org/Depts/los/consultative_process/consultative_process_info.htm#-List of issues.

Organization of work

Wednesday 17 June, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.,* Conference room 2

First Plenary Session - Opening of the tenth meeting, adoption of the agenda, general exchange of views.

Wednesday, 17 June, 3 p.m. - 6 p.m., * Conference room 2

Discussion panel - Segment 1 and Segment 2 will discuss the mandate, objectives and the role of the Consultative Process and the outcomes of the Consultative Process and their implementation.

Participating in the panel presentation for Segment 1 will be Alan Simcock ( United Kingdom) and Satya Nandan (Chairman of the West and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission).

Participating in the panel presentation for Segment 2 will be Agustin Blanco-Bazan (International Maritime Organization), Mathew Gianni (Natural Resources Defence Council), Sebastian Mathew (International Collective in Support of Fishworkers), Olajide Adeleke Ayinla (Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research) and Andrew Hudson (Principal Technical Advisor, International Waters and Cluster Leader, Water Governance Programme, UNDP - Deputy Coordinator, UN-Oceans).

Thursday, 18 June, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., * Conference room 2

Discussion panel continued - Segment 2 (continued) - Outcomes of the Consultative Process and their implementation. 

Thursday, 18 June, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., *Conference room 2

Discussion panel continued - Segment 3 - Format and methods of work of the Consultative Process.  (No panel presentation.)

Friday, 19 June, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., *Conference room 2

Discussion panel continued - Segment 3 continued - Format and methods of work of the Consultative Process.  (No panel presentation.)

Second Plenary Session - General exchange of views, including on issues that could benefit from attention in the future work of the General Assembly on oceans and the law of the sea.

Friday, 19 June, 3 p.m. - 6 p.m., *Conference room 2

Third Plenary - Consideration of the outcome of the meeting.

Side events will take place in Conference Room 6, during lunch time.  More information can be found at: http://www.un.org/Depts/los/consultative_process/consultative_process_info.htm#-Side_events

* *** *

For information media • not an official record