After a successful first Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) to begin formal negotiations on a new international legally binding instrument under the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ), the second session of formal treaty negotiations will take place at UN headquarters in New York City from 25 March – 5 April.
After a commitment by the President of the Conference, Ambassador Rena Lee of Singapore, at the conclusion of IGC1 to release text to aid the negotiations, President Lee disseminated the President’s Aid to Negotiations in early February 2019 and we congratulate the President for delivering a comprehensive options-based text that will be the focus of the next round of negotiations.