STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR BURHAN GAFOOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 75(A), ON OCEANS AND THE LAW OF THE SEA, GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 12 DECEMBER 2024

Mr President,

1 The General Assembly has before it one of the most important annual resolutions, namely, the resolution on oceans and the law of the sea, also known as the oceans omnibus resolution. This resolution comprehensively covers key issues, developments and activities pertaining to ocean affairs and the law of the sea. It is founded on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also known as the constitution for the oceans. This resolution reaffirms, every year, the status of UNCLOS as setting out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.

2 Singapore was honoured to serve as the coordinator for the informal consultations on draft resolution A/79/L.37. I am pleased to introduce the draft resolution on behalf of my colleague who served as the coordinator, Ms Natalie Morris-Sharma, and I thank her for her hard work and leadership in facilitating the discussions on this important resolution.

Mr President,

3 This draft resolution was negotiated in informal consultations that took place in late September to early October, and November. The informal consultations continued to serve as a space for delegations to receive. to consider and to discuss each other's positions and proposals, enabling the building of better understandings while working towards consensus in the consultation. Many paragraphs of the resolution, which has over 400 paragraphs, both preambular and operative, were updated and adjusted, demonstrating the continuing strong interest of Member States in this resolution.

4 The following are some of the key matters addressed in this year's resolution, generally in the order that they appear in the text of the draft.

(a) First, the resolution reaffirms the universal and unified character of UNCLOS. It further notes with satisfaction that 16 November 2024 marked the 30th anniversary of the entry into force of UNCLOS and that this year's Meeting of States Parties to UNCLOS commemorated the anniversary of UNCLOS.

(b) Second, the resolution recognises the importance of capacity-building, and of assisting developing States in implementing UNCLOS. The resolution encourages continued coordination and cooperation on ocean issues.

(c) Third, the resolution pays tribute to the significant roles of the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the peaceful settlement of disputes concerning the law of the sea, and takes note of the advisory opinion on Climate Change and International Law rendered by the Tribunal this year. The resolution also notes and welcomes the work of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

(d) Fourth, the resolution acknowledges key issues and developments in respect of maritime safety and security, the marine environment and marine resources, marine biodiversity, and marine science. On marine biodiversity, the resolution recalls the Assembly’s resolutions 77/321 and 78/272 on the BBNJ Agreement, and underscores that the BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference finalised its work on the BBNJ Agreement as reflected in resolution 77/321 and invites States and regional economic integration organisations to consider this and its implications for the ocean.

(e) Finally, the resolution addresses the Regular Process and the launch of the fourth cycle of the Regular Process, to cover five years, from 2026 to 2030. The resolution also welcomes the work of the Informal Consultative Process, for which next year’s meeting will focus on the theme of capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology.

5 On behalf of the coordinator, I wish to express our deep gratitude for the active and constructive engagement of all delegations, including the valuable contributions and hard work of the small group facilitators, and I express special appreciation for the support rendered by the Division for Oceans Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) in the preparations for and throughout this year’s informal consultations. Last, but not least, I thank all the co-sponsors for their very valuable support.

6 This concludes the introduction of the draft resolution. On behalf of the coordinator, I commend the draft resolution to the General Assembly for adoption.

Mr President,

7 If I may, I also wish to deliver some remarks in my national capacity. My delegation wishes to align itself with the statement that will be delivered by Samoa on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). Singapore was honoured to serve as the coordinator for AOSIS for the informal consultations on the oceans omnibus resolution and the sustainable fisheries resolution.

8 My delegation thanks the Secretary-General for his reports. We note, from the latest report, that there continues to be many ocean-related issues that have to be addressed. These include threats to marine ecosystems and biodiversity, and to maritime safety and security. This is of great concern to my delegation. That said, we are encouraged by recent developments in ocean affairs and the law of the sea. In this connection, we wish to make three points.

9 First, the international community continues to take steps to address and respond to the implications of climate change-related sea-level rise, whose impacts will be severe for small island developing States. My delegation welcomes all initiatives that are undertaken within the legal framework of UNCLOS. During High-Level Week this year, we were pleased to join other AOSIS members in adopting our Leaders’ Declaration on sea-level rise and statehood, in which members affirmed that statehood cannot be challenged under any circumstances of climate change-related sea-level rise.

10 Second, the BBNJ Agreement, which will contribute significantly to global efforts to achieve SDG 14, now has 105 signatories and 15 parties. Singapore was pleased to ratify the Agreement during this year’s UN Treaty Event, which was held during High-Level Week, and we call on all countries that have not done so to sign and ratify the Agreement as soon as possible in order for it to enter into force expeditiously. Singapore was also honoured to have coordinated and tabled the General Assembly resolution that established the preparatory commission that will prepare for the Agreement’s entry into force and the convening of the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Agreement. We look forward to participating actively and constructively in the substantive meetings of the Commission that will take place next year.

11 Third, given the importance of shipping to global trade, supply chains and the economic survival of many countries, including Singapore, my delegation welcomes international efforts, including initiatives undertaken by the UN Security Council and at the International Maritime Organization, to address issues of maritime safety and security. My delegation was pleased to have been the proponent of Action 22 of the Pact for the Future, in which States recognised the need to address the serious impacts of threats to maritime safety and security in accordance with international law, including particularly as reflected in the UN Charter and UNCLOS.

Mr President,

12 In closing, I wish to state that it is fitting that our consideration of this agenda item comes shortly after the 30th anniversary of the entry into force of UNCLOS. The Secretary-General rightly observed in his latest report that, thirty years after its entry into force, UNCLOS remains the “keystone for global ocean governance”. UNCLOS has contributed, and continues to be of critical importance, to international peace, security and sustainable development. In this regard, its comprehensive and universally-accepted rules have, amongst other things, ensured freedom of navigation, open trade routes and sea lines of communication, and the protection and preservation of the marine environment.

13 Singapore is proud of our contributions to the formation and development of UNCLOS, most notably when Ambassador Tommy Koh served as President of the Third UN Conference on the Law of the Sea from 1981 until its conclusion. We are also proud that Ambassador Rena Lee, the Ambassador for International Law of Singapore, served as the President of the intergovernmental conference that successfully negotiated and adopted the BBNJ Agreement, which was an agreement under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. I take this opportunity to announce that Ambassador Rena Lee will be Singapore’s candidate for the ICJ at the elections held in November 2026 and we hope that all States can support the candidature of Ambassador Rena Lee for election to the ICJ.

14 Singapore, a small island nation whose history, people and economy are intricately intertwined with the ocean, depends on the full and effective implementation of UNCLOS for our survival and prosperity. All maritime claims must be in accordance with the relevant rules of UNCLOS, which are comprehensive, and all freedoms, rights and obligations set out in UNCLOS must be respected and adhered to. Singapore will continue to be unwavering in our support of UNCLOS and its status as the constitution for the oceans.

15 To conclude, my delegation congratulates Ms Leticia Carvalho of Brazil on her election as Secretary-General of the ISA, the first woman and the first Latin American to hold that position. My delegation looks forward to working with her to advance the ISA’s mandate as set out in UNCLOS and the 1994 Implementation Agreement. We thank the outgoing Secretary-General of the ISA, Mr Michael Lodge, for his years of service to the organisation and for his leadership.

16 Finally, my delegation welcomes San Marino as the 170th party to UNCLOS and calls on States that have not done so to become a party to UNCLOS as soon as possible.

17 I thank you all very much for your attention.