Ahmedabad, 14 February 2023 – The Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, and the Director of the Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Prof (Dr.) Sanjeevi Shanthakumar, signed a letter of cooperation in Ahmedabad, India. The signing ceremony took place today during an international conference convened by GNLU to discuss multidimensional approaches and challenges of seabed mining.
This collaboration will contribute to the implementation of the strategic priorities of ISA as set out in ISA’s Strategic Plan and High-Level Action Plan for 2019-2023. It will also act as a stepping stone toward the effective implementation of ISA’s Capacity Development Strategy. Dedicated activities will be designed and implemented to enhance education and training in the law of the sea, support the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and highlight the role and mandate of ISA in relation to India’s blue economy policy and commitments to support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“This partnership with GNLU will help us to build competence in the law of the sea as an important component needed to develop India’s blue economy. I am particularly delighted to work together with GNLU to promote the participation of women in all aspects of the law of the sea,” said Secretary-General Lodge.
“I congratulate GNLU for its forward-thinking and look forward to many successful and impactful activities in India and the region in the months to come,” he added.
GNLU Director, Prof. (Dr.) Shanthakumar said, “GNLU is extremely proud and privileged to be the first national law university to partner with ISA. We are excited at the opportunities this association offers. We look forward to working with ISA for research and capacity-building in the environmental, legal, economic, policy and regulatory aspects of deep-seabed activities and hope to make a meaningful contribution to a sustainable blue economy.”
Focusing on the increased participation of women legal experts in the law of the sea, the partnership between ISA and GNLU builds on the success of the first edition of the Women in the Law of the Sea conference held in 2022. It also contributes to the objectives of the Impact Group on Research and Oceans for Women launched by the International Gender Champions network in 2022, co-chaired by the Secretary-General of ISA. Under the collaboration, joint initiatives will also be designed to strengthen national and regional capacity related to deep-seabed activities and the legal framework for the international seabed area.
Notes to editors
About GNLU
GNLU is the statutory university established by the Government of Gujarat under the Gujarat National Law University Act, 2003. GNLU aims to advance and disseminate learning and knowledge of the law and legal processes and their role in national development, to develop in the students and research scholars a sense of responsibility to serve society in the field of law by developing skills in advocacy, legal services, legislation, parliamentary practice, law reforms and such other matters, to make law and legal processes efficient instruments of social development and to promote the interdisciplinary study of law and management, technology, international cooperation and development.
About ISA
ISA is an autonomous international organization mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to protect the seabed for the shared benefit of humankind. ISA is committed to the principle that all nations of the world should be able to benefit from responsible, sustainable and regulated economic activities in the deep seabed and the potential resources it holds for a global green energy transition. ISA works to ensure that the voices of all States and stakeholders, including developing States, civil society organizations and all ISA Member States, are effectively heard during discussions on the sustainable development of the deep seabed.
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Ms. Stefanie Neno, Communications Specialist, ISA, sneno@isa.org.jm