The role of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and its implementing agreements in sustainable development

Updated 18 February 2014

Side event on the role of UNCLOS in sustainable development, 3 February 2014, UNHQ

On 3 February 2014, on the margins of the eighth session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs, organized a side event, entitled "The role of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in sustainable development”. The event aimed to address, in particular, the social, economic and environmental dimensions of UNCLOS and show how these aspects are delicately balanced within UNCLOS. In this regard, attention was drawn to the benefits of an effective implementation of UNCLOS and its implementing agreements for the achievement of sustainable development. The side event also aimed at providing information on the relevant goals set by the General Assembly in its annual resolution on oceans and the law of the sea, and the work of the processes it has established to assist it in its consideration of ocean affairs and the law of the sea, including the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction.

Moderated by Ms. Gabriele Goettsche-Wanli, Director, DOALOS/OLA, the event featured three panellists:

• H.E. Mr. Eden Charles, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Trinidad & Tobago to the United Nations [Link to Remarks]
• Mr. Larry Awosika, Chairman, Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf [Link to PPT]
• Mr. David Freestone, Professor of International Law and Former Deputy General Counsel of the World Bank [Link to PPT]

Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, United Nations Legal Counsel, made introductory remarks [Link to Remarks]