The BBNJ Agreement is a legally binding treaty that seeks to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (i.e. the high seas and deep seabed beyond states’ territorial waters). It does this by setting out obligations in four interlinked areas:
Effective and prompt implementation of the BBNJ Agreement is crucial for ocean sustainability and conservation and to address global inequalities in access to ocean resources. SIDS, characterized as ‘large ocean states’ due to their geographical features and interconnection with and knowledge of ocean ecosystems, as well as coastal LDCs, are among the most important actors in contemporary ocean affairs and could be among the most significant beneficiaries of the Agreement. However, these States can face capacity and resource challenges in implementing the BBNJ Agreement.
Inspired by the law clinic tradition developed and practiced at law schools around the world, the programme aims to fulfill both practical capacity development and hands-on educational mandates.
WMU-GOI researchers and external experts, including the lead negotiators of the BBNJ intergovernmental conference, will lead the consultation process facilitated by the Clinic, and facilitate ratification and implementation procedures undertaken by legal advisors, government officials, and relevant stakeholders from SIDS and coastal LDCs.
The Ireland WMU-GOI BBNJ Clinic is the first of its kind, sitting at a unique intersection between education, practical capacity-development tasks, and vocational clinical legal work.
