Committees

UNCLOS: fit for purpose in the 21st century?

Inquiry

The Committee’s inquiry will explore the extent to which the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which came into force in 1994, remains fit for purpose in 2021. It will examine the enforcement of UNCLOS, its dispute resolution mechanisms, and the extent to which is has proved able to adapt to new and emerging challenges, including climate change, autonomous maritime systems, and issues of human rights and human security at sea. It will explore the UK’s current policy towards UNCLOS and approach in practice, and consider which international partners and alliances will be important for the UK to address these challenges and uphold its interests. 

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was Friday 12 November 2021.

Upcoming events

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No upcoming events scheduled

Past events

Wednesday 8 December 2021
10:00am Public
UNCLOS: fit for purpose in the 21st century? - Oral evidence 8 December 2021
10:00am
  • The Right Hon. the Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Minister for the Pacific and the International Environment at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
  • Andrew Murdoch (Legal Director at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Room 4A, Palace of Westminster
Wednesday 24 November 2021
10:00am Public
12:00pm Private
UNCLOS: fit for purpose in the 21st century? - Oral evidence 24 November 2021
10:00am
  • Professor Douglas Guilfoyle (Associate Professor of Law at University of New South Wales Canberra)
  • Professor Anna Petrig LLM (Chair of International Law and Public Law at University of Basel)
11:00am
  • Professor Richard Barnes (Professor of International Law at The University of Lincoln)
Room 4, Palace of Westminster
Wednesday 17 November 2021
10:00am Public
12:00pm Private
UNCLOS: fit for purpose in the 21st century? - Oral evidence 17 November 2021
10:00am
  • Professor Clive Schofield (Head of Research, WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute at World Maritime University)
  • Dr Surabhi Ranganathan (Associate Professor and Co-Acting Director of the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law at University of Cambridge)
11:00am
  • Admiral Sir Philip Jones, First Sea Lord (2016-2019) (Former First Sea Lord at Royal Navy)
Room 4, Palace of Westminster
Wednesday 10 November 2021
10:00am Public
12:00pm Private
UNCLOS: fit for purpose in the 21st century? - Oral evidence 10 November 2021
10:00am
  • Commander Caroline Tuckett (Lead Legal Advisor - International Law at Royal Navy)
11:00am
  • Andrew Murdoch (Legal Advisor, Oceans Policy Unit at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Room 3, Palace of Westminster

Contact us

  • Email: hlintlrelations@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 7412 (committee staff) | 020 7219 8659 (Press Officer)
  • Address: International Relations and Defence Committee, House of Lords, London SW1A 0PW