Background Release

Meeting of States Parties to United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea

 

to Be Held at Headquarters, 4–11 June

 

The twenty-second Meeting of States parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea will be held at Headquarters from 4 to 11 June.

Often referred to as “the Constitution for 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 Meeting are administrative and budgetary questions related to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and information reported by the President of the Tribunal, 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 21 members of the Commission.  The provisional agenda of the twenty-second Meeting of States Parties is contained in document SPLOS/L.69

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea was established to adjudicate disputes arising out of the interpretation and application of the Convention.  Seated in Hamburg, Germany, the Tribunal is composed of 21 judges elected for nine-year terms.

The International Seabed Authority is an autonomous international organization established under the Convention and the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.  Through the Authority, States parties to the Convention shall organize and control activities in the Area, particularly with a view to administering the resources of the Area.  The Authority is located in Kingston, Jamaica.

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 received over 60 submissions and 45 sets of preliminary information giving indication of future submissions by States.  The Commission holds its meetings in New York.

The Meeting of States Parties will have before it the following documentation:  a letter from the Chairperson of the Commission on the progress of work since the twenty-first Meeting of States Parties last year (document SPLOS/245); the draft budget proposals of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea for 2013-2014 (document SPLOS/2012/WP.1), presented by the Tribunal; the Appointment of Auditor for financial years 2013-2016 (document SPLOS/243); and the Report on budgetary matters for the financial periods 2009-2010 and 2011–2012 (document SPLOS/242).

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For information media • not an official record