Decisions of the World Court Relevant to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: A Reference Guide

This publication provides a reference guide to the contribution made by decisions of the World Court, as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and the world’s most senior court with the broadest material jurisdiction, to the development of the law of the sea as a part of the global system of peace and security. The guide is dedicated to the Court’s former President Stephen M. Schwebel in appreciation of his belief that it is important for the Court to further explore its pre-eminently unique role throughout the third millennium. Whereas the format of specific entries covered by this reference guide largely corresponds to the Parts and Annexes of the 1982 UN Law of the Sea Convention (LOSC) and the 1994 Part XI Agreement, the heading of each entry also contains, as appropriate, references to other global instruments. The entries cover principally judgments and orders (including the related pleadings) of the PCIJ and the ICJ and those decisions of Arbitral Tribunals and other third-party fora as well as national courts which have been relied upon in the Court’s jurisprudence. In addition, the decisions of the ITLOS and some other fora, as well as references to treaties are also listed under specific entries as appropriate.