UN Legal Counsel participates in the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal

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.  Mr. Serpa Soares’s principal role was to assist the Presidents of the UN Ocean Conference, the Presidents of Portugal and Kenya, in his capacity as Special Adviser on Oceans and Legal Matters.

The Legal Counsel has participated in special events organized by the Governments of Portugal and France ( “Building on the achievements of the One Ocean Summit”) on the eve of the UN Ocean Conference and in the meeting with Ocean Leaders organized by the President of France, Mr. Emmanuel Macron.

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

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

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.

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

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 “Enhancing 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” and serviced two further Interactive Dialogues on “Addressing Marine Pollution” and “Making fisheries sustainable and providing access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets”.  OLA staff also actively participated in many other side-events, including by moderating the UNCTAD – OLA/DOALOS side-event on “Addressing key challenges in fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood trade policy for sustainable development”.  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.