International Law and Justice

To commemorate in 2022 the fortieth anniversary of the adoption and opening for signature of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea this publication reflects on the Convention’s successful contribution to the promotion of the peaceful uses of the seas and oceans the equitable and efficient utilization of their resources the conservation of their living resources and the study protection and preservation of the marine environment. The publication focuses on the historical achievements of the Convention.

To commemorate in 2022 the fortieth anniversary of the adoption and opening for signature of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea this publication reflects on the Convention’s successful contribution to the promotion of the peaceful uses of the seas and oceans the equitable and efficient utilization of their resources the conservation of their living resources and the study protection and preservation of the marine environment. The publication focuses on the historical achievements of the Convention.

This training guide is designed to enable participants to understand the human rights perspective on migration and how human rights laws and standards can be operationalized to make migration safer and an empowering experience for all. It provides an introduction to related principles and issues and is designed for persons with limited knowledge of human rights or migration. The training guide contains session plans for the trainer and is supported by sample slide presentations and associated materials including activities and handouts for participants which are available electronically as individual components on the OHCHR website.

Global production of cocaine has jumped dramatically over the past two years following an initial slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Global Report on Cocaine 2023 details how coca cultivation soared 35 per cent from 2020 to 2021 a record high and the sharpest year-to-year increase since 2016. The rise is a result of both an expansion in coca bush cultivation and improvements in the process of converting coca bush to cocaine hydrochloride. The steep growth in supply has been matched by a similar swelling in demand with many regions showing a steady rise in cocaine users over the past decade. While the cocaine market remains quite concentrated in the Americas and parts of Europe the report warns that there is a strong potential for a large expansion in Africa and Asia. Nevertheless interceptions of cocaine shipments by law enforcement around the world have also risen sharply with seizures reaching a record high of nearly 2000 tons in 2021. The report examines the emergence of new hubs for cocaine trafficking noting that countries in Southeastern Europe and Africa – particularly those in West and Central Africa – are increasingly being used as key transit zones for the drug. Ports on the North Sea like Antwerp Rotterdam and Hamburg meanwhile have eclipsed traditional entry points in Spain and Portugal for cocaine arriving in Western Europe. Traffickers are also diversifying their routes in Central America by sending more and more cocaine to Europe in addition to North America.