Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction
Parties with reservations, declarations and objections
Party | Reservations / Declarations | Objections |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | Yes | No |
United Kingdom
20-09-2023
In signing the Agreement, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland (the “United Kingdom”) recalls Article 71 of the Agreement and has
the honour to convey the following declarations:
1. The United Kingdom welcomes the general obligation to interpret and apply the BBNJ
Agreement in a manner that promotes coherence and coordination with and that does
not undermine other relevant instruments, frameworks and global, regional, subregional
and sectoral bodies. In this context, the United Kingdom notes that the Antarctic
Treaty system comprehensively addresses the legal, political and environmental considerations
unique to that region and provides a comprehensive framework for the international
management of the Antarctic.
2. The United Kingdom notes references in paragraph 8 of the Preamble to “the existing
rights of Indigenous Peoples, including as set out in the United Nations Declaration
on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, or of, as appropriate, local communities,” and
in Article 7(k) to “the rights of Indigenous Peoples or of, as appropriate, local
communities”. The United Kingdom’s long-standing and well-established position, set
out in its annual explanation of position at the UN General Assembly on the rights
of indigenous people, is that human rights are held exclusively by individuals. With
the exception of the right of self-determination (Common Article 1 of the two International
Human Rights Covenants), the United Kingdom does not recognise collective human rights
in international law. The United Kingdom consider this important in ensuring that
individuals within groups are not left vulnerable or unprotected by allowing the rights
of the groups to supersede the human rights of the individual. The United Kingdom
therefore understands any internationally-agreed reference to the rights of indigenous
peoples or local communities, including those in the UN Declaration on the Rights
of Indigenous Peoples and, in the Agreement signed today, to refer to those rights
bestowed by governments at the national level. The United Kingdom further understands
the term “local communities” to be used consistently with the way it is used in the
Convention on Biological Diversity.