Background Release

States Parties to Convention on Law of the Sea Will Hold

 

Twenty-First Meeting at Headquarters 13-17 June

 

The twenty-first Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea will be held at Headquarters from 13 to 17 June.

Often referred to as “the constitution of the oceans”, the landmark Convention was adopted on 10 December 1982 and entered into force on 16 November 1994.  Its 320 articles and nine annexes govern all aspects of ocean space and maritime issues, from navigational rights, maritime limits and marine scientific research, to resource management, marine environment protection and dispute settlement.

The three bodies established by the Convention are the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the International Seabed Authority and the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

Among the matters to be considered at next week’s session are administrative and budgetary questions related to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and information reported by the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority and the Chairman of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, as well as the election of seven members of the Tribunal.  The provisional agenda of the twenty-first Meeting of States Parties is contained in document SPLOS/L.67.

International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea was established to adjudicate disputes arising out of the interpretation and application of the Convention.  It has exclusive jurisdiction in disputes concerning deep seabed mineral resources and provides advisory opinions when requested to do so.  The Tribunal’s jurisdiction is mandatory in cases relating to the prompt release of vessels and crew, or with regard to requests for the prescription of provisional measures pending constitution of an arbitral tribunal.  Seated in Hamburg, Germany, the Tribunal is composed of 21 judges elected for nine-year terms.

International Seabed Authority

The International Seabed Authority is an autonomous international organization established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.  The Authority is the organization through which States Parties to the Convention shall, in accordance with the regime for the seabed and ocean floor and subsoil thereof beyond the limits of national jurisdiction (the Area) established in Part XI and the Agreement, organize and control activities in the Area, particularly with a view to administering the resources of the Area.

Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf

The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf considers the data submitted by coastal States concerning claims to outer limits of the continental shelf that may extend beyond 200 nautical miles.  The Commission has so far received 56 submissions by coastal States and 45 sets of preliminary information giving indication of future submissions by States.

The Meeting will have before it a letter from the Chairperson of the Commission on the progress of work since the States Parties twentieth Meeting last year (document SPLOS/225).

Administrative and Budgetary Matters

Before the Meeting is the report of the external auditor for the financial period 2009–2010, with financial statements of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea as at 31 December 2010 (document SPLOS/223), presented by the Tribunal.

The Meeting will also have before it the report on budgetary matters for the financial periods 2009-2010 and 2011–2012 (document SPLOS/224).

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For information media • not an official record