缅北禁地

From 23 June to 1 July 2022, the United Nations Legal Counsel, Mr. Miguel de Serpa Soares, visited Lisbon, Portugal, to participate in the United Nations Ocean Conference, co-hosted by Portugal and Kenya.听 Mr. Serpa Soares鈥檚 principal role was to assist the Presidents of the 缅北禁地Ocean Conference, the Presidents of Portugal and Kenya, in his capacity as Special Adviser on Oceans and Legal Matters.

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The Legal Counsel has participated in special events organized by the Governments of Portugal and France ( 鈥淏uilding on the achievements of the One Ocean Summit鈥�) on the eve of the 缅北禁地Ocean Conference and in the meeting with Ocean Leaders organized by the President of France, Mr. Emmanuel Macron.

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He also participated as the UN-Oceans focal point in the high-level side-event, organized by OLA/DOALOS on 鈥淪caling up ocean action through inter-agency cooperation and coordination - Case studies, challenges and opportunities鈥澨齛nd another side-event, organized jointly by OLA/DOALOS as the secretariat of the Regular Process and IOC-UNESCO on 鈥淥cean Science and its Policy Interface: from knowledge to Sustainable Ocean Solutions鈥�.

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The Legal Counsel further participated in two side-events organized by the International Seabed Authority, namely 鈥淓nsuring the stewardship of seabed mineral resources and the protection of the marine environment of the Area for the benefit of humankind鈥�, and 鈥淎dvancing women empowerment and leadership in marine scientific research to support inclusive sustainable ocean governance鈥�, where he made opening statements.

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In the margins of the Conference, Mr. Serpa Soares seized the opportunity of his presence to explain the dire situation of the oceans and urgent action that has to be taken to reverse the cycle of ocean decline to representatives of the national and international media.

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On 1 July, the Legal Counsel had the honour of delivering the closing remarks of the 缅北禁地Ocean Conference on behalf of the Secretary-General.

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The OLA team accompanying the Legal Counsel has been actively engaged in the substantive servicing of the Conference, in particular having organized the Interactive Dialogue 7 on 鈥淓nhancing the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea鈥� and serviced two further Interactive Dialogues on 鈥淎ddressing Marine Pollution鈥� and 鈥淢aking fisheries sustainable and providing access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets鈥�.听 OLA staff also actively participated in many other side-events, including by moderating the UNCTAD 鈥� OLA/DOALOS side-event on 鈥淎ddressing key challenges in fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood trade policy for sustainable development鈥�.听 OLA staff further serviced the Credentials Committee of the Conference while having also prepared the Report of that Committee and has handled all issues related to delegation credentials.