Oceans and Law of the Sea

Wildlife crime threatens both biodiversity and human health, according to a new United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report.  It finds that many illegally trafficked animals may spread diseases to people, and the pangolin — a possible source of COVID-19 — remains the most trafficked mammal in the world.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the International Day of the Seafarer, observed on 25 June:

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

The United Nations humanitarian chief, Mark Lowcock, has released $40 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to address health emergencies in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including a new Ebola outbreak in the city of Mbandaka, in north-western Équateur province.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks on World Oceans Day, in New York today:

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for World Oceans Day, observed on 8 June:

The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf held its fifty-second session at United Nations Headquarters from 27 January to 13 March.

The General Assembly today decided to postpone the fourth session of the intergovernmental conference to draft a new global instrument on biodiversity in ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction, citing concerns over the coronavirus disease, COVID-19.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres' remarks at the “Blue Economy” event in Addis Ababa today:

The preparation meeting for the 2020 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 concluded today, with delegates outlining their views on the potential content of the political declaration amid calls that it reflect the historical urgency to improve the state of the world’s waterways.