UNCLOS at 30
A one day seminar on the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; 1982 - 2012
organised by the
International Ocean Institute and the
Faculty of Laws, University of Malta
PROGRAMME
23rd November 2012
09.00 – 09.30
09.30
Registration
Welcome and Opening of Seminar
09.30 – 09.40
Dr Awni Behnam - President, International Ocean Institute
09.40 - 09.50
Professor Kevin Aquilina - Dean, Faculty of Laws at the University of Malta
Keynote Speech
10.00 - 10.30
HE Dr Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kawari
Minister of Culture and Heritage of the State of Qatar; President of UNCTAD XIII
UNCLOS and UNCTAD; the developments in UNCTAD’s work in synergy with and complementarily to
UNCLOS over the years.
10.30 – 11.00
Coffee Break
Panel
Session 1
30 years of UNCLOS: from 1982 to 2012:
New developments and the future we want.
Chair: Ambassador Salvino Busuttil; Host Country representative on IOI Governing Board
11.00 – 11.20
Dr Awni Behnam
President, International Ocean Institute
30 Years of UNCLOS – developments in the laws governing the oceans; RIO +20 and the world oceans –
the future we want; the UN Secretary General’s Ocean Compact.
11.20 – 11.40
Ambassador Saviour F. Borg
Former Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations.
30 Years of UNCLOS - Malta's Contribution to the process - past and present.
11.40 – 12.00
Discussion
Panel
Session 2
UNCLOS and bio-prospecting: the governance of living resources.
The progress of knowledge in this area since UNCLOS and the governance deficit.
Chair: Professor Kevin Aquilina - Dean, Faculty of Laws at the University of Malta
12.00 – 12.20
Professor Marco Taviani
Research Director, Institute of Marine Science - National Research Council, ISMAR-CNR, Bologna, Italy
The living resources of the deep ocean floors – a treasure chest for humankind? A glimpse into what lies
beneath: new knowledge, new discoveries and the immense potentials awaiting discovery.
12.20 – 12.40
Dr Simone Borg
Head, Dept of Environmental & Resources Law; Deputy Dean, Faculty of Laws at the University of Malta
Jurisdiction over the living resources of the deep seabed – ownership vs common heritage?
12.40 – 13.00
Professor Mao Bin
State Oceanic Administration, PR China
The New Development of the International Seabed Regime based on the Author’s Experience and
China's Practice.
13.00 – 13.20
Discussion
13.20 – 14.30
Lunch Break
Panel
Session 3
UNCLOS and Security Issues on the High Seas
Chair: Dr Simone Borg, Head, Dept of Environmental & Resources Law, Faculty of Laws, University of Malta
14.30 – 14.50
Professor Alastair Couper
Professor Emeritus, University of Cardiff, Wales
Trends in the Legal Rights of Seafarers since UNCLOS 82.
14.50 – 15.10
Mr Riyaz Hamza
The Nippon Foundation Lecturer in International Maritime Security Law,
IMO/ International Maritime Law Institute
Maritime Security and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
15.10 – 15.30
Dr Ann Fenech
Lecturer, Faculty of Laws at the University of Malta; Managing Partner, Fenech and Fenech Associates.
Piracy – the real-life perspective.
15.30 – 15.50
Discussion
16.00
Wrap-up and adjournment of Seminar
• Dr Awni Behnam & Dr Simone Borg