Participation

In accordance with resolution 72/249, the Conference shall be open to all States Members of the United Nations, members of the specialized agencies and parties to UNCLOS.

Others are entitled to participate in the Conference in the capacity of observer in accordance with resolution 72/249.  Pursuant to that resolution, the following entities or organizations are entitled to participate as observers:

• Entities that have received a standing invitation to participate as observers in the work of the General Assembly pursuant to its relevant resolutions
• Representatives of relevant specialized agencies, as well as other organs, organizations, funds and programmes of the United Nations system
• Interested global and regional intergovernmental organizations and other interested international bodies that were invited to participate in the following conferences and summits:
  
  • the World Summit on Sustainable Development
  • the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
  • the previous United Nations conferences on sustainable development of small island developing States, held in Barbados, Mauritius and Samoa
  • the United Nations Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks
  • the Review Conference on the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks
  • the United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
• Non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
• Non-governmental organizations that were accredited to any of the following conferences and summits:
  
  • the World Summit on Sustainable Development
  • the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
  • the previous United Nations conferences on sustainable development of small island developing States, held in Barbados, Mauritius and Samoa
  • the United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
• The following associate members of regional commissions: American Samoa, Anguilla, Aruba, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Curaçao, French Polynesia, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Puerto Rico, Sint Maarten, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands.