The 27th session of the Assembly of the International Seabed Authority (ISA-27) opened on Monday in Kingston, Jamaica. The first day’s deliberations focused on items on the Assembly’s agenda in the morning. In the afternoon, a special session took place, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the adoption and opening for signature of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
During the special session commemorating the 40th anniversary of UNCLOS, delegates hailed Jamaica’s role in the development of the Convention and highlighted the double celebration of Emancipation Day on 1 August and Independence Day on 6 August. They further stressed that UNCLOS is the “Constitution for the Ocean” and plays a key role in the global system for peace and security, balancing states’ national interests, and offering ample opportunities for cooperation and peaceful dispute settlement.