Summary
Highlights for Thursday, 13 June 2019
On Thursday morning, delegates at the United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and Law of the Sea (ICP-20) heard reports and continued discussions.On inter-agency cooperation and coordination, delegates heard from Miguel de Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel, in his capacity as the UN-Oceans Focal Point, on progress of work under UN-Oceans. He highlighted activities related to the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, including creation of a contact group, coordinated by IOC-UNESCO, to facilitate input and guidance to the preparatory phase of the Decade.De Serpa Soares also provided an update on progress toward a proposed methodology for SDG Indicator 14.c.1, related to the number of countries making progress on ratifying, accepting and implementing ocean–related instruments that implement international law for marine conservation and sustainable use. On the way forward, delegates considered an explanatory note and a proposed voluntary questionnaire, and agreed that an additional review period was necessary before proceeding to a pilot phase.Delegates also completed the general exchange of views that began on Monday morning, before considering the process for selection of topics and panelists, and issues that could benefit from further consideration under the UN General Assembly on ocean affairs and the Law of the Sea.The meeting then adjourned to provide time for the Co-Chairs and Secretariat to prepare the draft Co-Chairs’ summary to be reviewed by delegates on Friday.
IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) meeting coverage, provided daily web updates from the 20th Meeting of the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea. In addition, IISD Reporting Services, has published a summary and analysis report of the meeting, which is available in HTML and PDF.
