Leaders of nations, Foreign Ministers, and other high-ranking officials are coming together to back multilateral treaties which are the basis of global legal systems.
David Nanopoulos, Chief of the Treaty Section at the UN Office for Legal Affairs (OLA), stated, “Multilateral treaties are essential tools for Member States to achieve the objectives of the UN Charter.”
The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is an example of the power of these international agreements.
Mr. Nanopoulos went on to say, “Universal participation in these treaties is absolutely fundamental to their success.”
At the event, two major treaties are being discussed: the Convention on the International Effects of Judicial Sales of Ships, and the Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, commonly known as the BBNJ treaty or high seas treaty.
The former, which has been signed by 15 countries up to this point, is meant to reinforce international law in regards to ship sales.
The BBNJ treaty, which was agreed upon in June after almost two decades of negotiations, strengthens the legal regime in the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity, in over two-thirds of the world’s ocean.
Other treaties open for signature include those related to the environment, human rights, disarmament, and combating transnational organized crime.
The Treaty Event, created in 2000 by former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, takes advantage of UN General Assembly’s annual high-level week to gain support from world leaders for multilateral treaties and the rule of law.
This initiative has been successful, with more than 2,000 treaty actions secured.
The UN Secretary-General serves as the depository of multilateral treaties, providing transparency and helping Member States cooperate, thus upholding international law and principles of diplomacy.