International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
Tribunal international du droit de la mer (French)
|
|
|---|---|
 Official logo
|
|
| Seat |  Hamburg, Germany |
| Working languages | |
| Judges from | 21 nations |
| Leaders | |
|
• President
|
 Judge Albert Hoffmann |
|
• Vice President
|
 Judge Tomas Heidar |
| Establishment | |
|
• UNCLOS adopted
|
10 December 1982 |
|
• UNCLOS in force
|
16 November 1994 |
The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) is a special court that helps countries solve problems about the ocean. It was created by a big agreement called the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This agreement was signed in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on December 10, 1982.
UNCLOS became official on November 16, 1994. It set up rules for how countries should use and share the ocean. This includes everything from fishing to shipping and even exploring the deep seabed. ITLOS is one of the ways countries can settle their ocean disputes peacefully.
Even though it was created by a United Nations agreement, ITLOS is not a direct part of the UN. However, it works closely with the United Nations. In 1997, they made an agreement to cooperate. The main office of the Tribunal is in Hamburg, Germany.
The UNCLOS agreement also created the International Seabed Authority. This group is in charge of making rules for mining on the seabed far from any country's coast. Currently, 168 countries and the European Union are part of this agreement. As of December 2022, countries like the United States and Iran had not yet joined.
Who Works at ITLOS?
The Tribunal has 21 judges. These judges come from many different countries. They are chosen to make sure that different parts of the world are represented. This helps make sure the decisions are fair for everyone.
Sometimes, the Tribunal sets up smaller, special groups of judges. These groups handle specific cases. For example, a special group of five judges helped solve a case about swordfish between Chile and the European Union. Another group helped Ghana and Ivory Coast figure out their ocean border. More recently, a group of nine judges is working on a border dispute between Mauritius and Maldives.
Where Does ITLOS Meet?
When countries have a problem, the Tribunal can hear their case. These hearings usually happen in Hamburg, Germany. But sometimes, they can also take place in Singapore.
What Kinds of Cases Does ITLOS Handle?
ITLOS deals with many different types of ocean-related problems. Here are some examples of cases they have handled:
- Ship Cases: Sometimes, a country might stop a ship from another country. ITLOS can decide if the ship should be released quickly. For example, they handled cases like The M/V "Saiga" Case and The "Camouco" Case.
- Fishing Rights: Countries might disagree about who can fish in certain areas. The Tribunal helped with the Southern Bluefin Tuna Cases between New Zealand, Australia, and Japan.
- Ocean Borders: One big job of ITLOS is to help countries draw their maritime (ocean) borders. They decided the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar in the Bay of Bengal. They also helped Ghana and Ivory Coast with their Atlantic Ocean border.
- Environmental Issues: ITLOS can also look at cases related to protecting the ocean. For example, they gave advice on the Responsibilities and Obligations of States Sponsoring Persons and Entities with Respect to Activities in the Area.
- Other Disputes: They also handle various other issues, like the ARA Libertad" Case between Argentina and Ghana, which was about a naval ship. More recently, they looked into the Case concerning the Detention of Three Ukrainian Naval Vessels between Ukraine and Russia.
Some cases are still ongoing, like the border dispute between Mauritius and Maldives. ITLOS also gives advice when asked by international groups, such as the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law.
|
