STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR BURHAN GAFOOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 78 ON OCEANS AND THE LAW OF THE SEA, GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 7 DECEMBER 2021

Mr President,

1 Thank you very much for convening the meeting today and for presiding over the session this morning.  This annual debate on this agenda item entitled “Oceans and the law of the sea” gives all members of the General Assembly an opportunity to reflect on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which is regarded by many as one of the greatest achievements of the United Nations and of multilateralism to the rule of law at the international level.  The Convention today has 168 Parties, many of its provisions are widely regarded as reflecting customary international law, and the three institutions that it created contribute significantly to ocean governance. 

2 In draft resolution A/76/L.20, the General Assembly will reaffirm that the Convention sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.   Singapore had the great honour to coordinate and facilitate the informal consultations on this draft resolution. The actual informal consultations were coordinated by my colleague Ms. Natalie Morris-Sharma, who was Counsellor (Legal) at the Permanent Mission of Singapore until recently, and I thank her for her hard work.  I wish to express appreciation for the support and constructive engagement of the co-sponsors and all delegations, the contributions of the small group facilitators, and the Division for Oceans Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) for their support throughout the negotiations.

3 This year, due to restrictions that continue to be imposed due to the ongoing global pandemic, the informal consultations were, on an exceptional basis, conducted through an exchange of correspondence and virtual meetings between August and November.  The informal consultations proceeded on the understanding that changes to the resolution that was adopted at the 75^th session would be limited to changes necessary for DOALOS to be able to prepare and operationalise next year’s meetings, matters attracting budgetary implications, mandate renewals, as well as factual updates to reflect the developments since the resolution adopted at the 74^th session in 2019.  

4 Around a quarter of the resolution, which has over 400 preambular and operative paragraphs, has been updated.  These updates are of great importance.  The significance of this resolution remains undiminished.  A number of the updates recognise the work that has proceeded on oceans and law of the sea issues, notwithstanding the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic.  I will outline four key updates in the order that they appear in the resolution.

(a) First, the resolution notes with concern the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in its successive reports, and in this regard, refers in particular to its special report on the ocean and cryosphere in a changing climate, and the 2021 report of Working Group I on the physical science basis of climate change.

(b) Second, the resolution notes the discussions at the twenty-first meeting of the Informal Consultative Process (ICP), which focused on the theme of sea-level rise and its impacts.  It also renews the mandate of the ICP for the next two years.

(c) Third, the resolution welcomes the high-level launch of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, and notes the steps that have been taken to support the implementation of the Decade.

(d) Fourth, the resolution decides to devote time—from the plenary meetings for this agenda item at the General Assembly’s 77^th session—to the commemoration of the 40^th anniversary of the adoption and opening for signature of the Convention, and it invites States Parties to the Convention to commemorate the same at their meeting next year and requests the Secretary-General to organise activities to mark this important occasion.

5 Please allow me, Mr President, to make an oral revision to paragraph 144 as agreed during the informal consultations. My delegation proposes that, following the adoption of Security Council resolution 2608 (2021) on 3 December 2021, the references to Security Council resolution 2554 (2020) be updated to references to Security Council resolution 2608 (2021).

6 This concludes my introduction of the draft resolution, which my delegation commends to the General Assembly for adoption. 

Mr President,

7 If you will allow me, I will now make some remarks in my national capacity.  My delegation would like to align itself with the statement that will be delivered shortly by Antigua and Barbuda on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States.  The pandemic continues to have an impact on ocean activities, with vulnerable ocean-based economies, including Small Island Developing States, being particularly affected.  As the Secretary-General’s report indicates, however, despite ongoing pandemic-related challenges, there continues to be immense interest in ocean issues and efforts to address such issues have continued.  Against this backdrop, I wish to make three points.

8 First, the health and safety of seafarers around the world continue to be a pressing concern for the international community.  Seafarers play a critical role in maintaining international supply chains, which are critical for pandemic response and recovery amongst other things.  As a major transshipment hub situated alongside one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, Singapore recognises the need for us to do our part to ensure the wellbeing of seafarers.  While the number of seafarers stranded at sea due to pandemic-related travel restrictions has decreased, the problem has not been completely resolved.  Singapore wishes to take this opportunity to reiterate our commitment to facilitating crew changes in a manner that safeguards public health as well as that of ships and their crew.  Since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, Singapore has facilitated over 190,000 crew changes.  As vaccination provides an additional layer of protection, Singapore has also prioritised the vaccination of frontline maritime personnel working in Singapore since January 2021 and has recently expanded our vaccination efforts to offer vaccines to seafarers, both resident as well as non-resident who work in or call on the Port of Singapore.

9 Second, Singapore is pleased to be the first country to ratify the Convention on the International Organization for Marine Aids to Navigation.  The entry into force of this convention will elevate the status of the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) from a non-governmental organisation to an intergovernmental organisation.  Singapore strongly supports the efforts of the IALA to establish common technical standards for vessel traffic services and e-navigation to promote safe and efficient shipping.  The IALA’s change in status to that of an intergovernmental organisation will boost international participation in its activities and strengthen global cooperation and coordination in harmonising standards for marine navigation.

10 Third, Singapore welcomes the convening of the second UN Ocean Conference to be held in 2022, and reaffirms our support for the co-hosts, Kenya and Portugal.  Singapore remains firmly committed to the realisation of SDG 14.  In this regard, we look forward to building on the outcomes of the first conference in 2017, including the Call for Action, which continues to play an important role in international efforts to implement and achieve the outcomes envisaged in SDG 14.  We fully support the theme of the 2022 conference on scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation.  Guidance from the best available science and innovation are essential for the achievement of SDG 14.

Mr President,

11 I wish to conclude by stating that my delegation welcomes the paragraphs included in the draft resolution on the commemoration of the 40^th anniversary of the Convention’s adoption and opening for signature.  We fully support commemorating the occasion given the importance of the Convention, which the Secretary-General’s report aptly refers to as “the world’s ‘constitution for the oceans’”.  The Convention has been and continues to underpin international peace, security and sustainable development in the oceans and seas.  We look forward to participating in meetings and activities to commemorate the occasion next year and urge all Member States who have yet to become a party to the Convention to do so as soon as possible.

12 I thank you very much for your attention.

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