Vietnam Hosts Seminar on BBNJ Agreement to Mark 30 Years of UNCLOS

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the Vietnam Society of International Law, organized a seminar on the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) regarding the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) on December 10. This event was held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the UNCLOS coming into force. The seminar brought together representatives from various ministries, sectors, agencies, foreign diplomatic missions, speakers, scholars, and researchers in maritime and ocean law.

During the seminar, Charlotte Salpin, Senior Legal Officer at the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), presented an overview of the BBNJ Agreement, discussing its development and key provisions. Other speakers elaborated on implementation mechanisms, obligations for environmental impact assessments, capacity-building mechanisms, financial provisions, and technology transfer within the agreement. The BBNJ Agreement is the latest legal instrument developed to implement the UNCLOS, addressing crucial issues such as benefit-sharing of marine genetic resources and establishing marine protected areas.

The BBNJ Agreement, a significant milestone in international maritime law, aims to achieve the 14th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 14) of the UN. It reinforces the UNCLOS as the foundational legal framework for addressing emerging maritime governance challenges. Vietnam, as a coastal nation committed to international law, actively participated in the negotiation process for the BBNJ Agreement. It was among the first countries to sign the agreement and is currently preparing its ratification dossier. Vietnam is also collaborating with other countries to prepare for the implementation of the agreement once it is enforced.

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