Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs chairs first meeting of the Committee to drive Thailand’s Accession to the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

วันที่นำเข้าข้อมูล 22 Nov 2025

วันที่ปรับปรุงข้อมูล 22 Nov 2025

| 31 view

On 20 November 2025, Ms. Sasirit Tangulrat, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, chaired the first meeting of the Committee to drive Thailand’s Accession to the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction or the BBNJ Agreement.

The meeting agreed that Thailand should expedite its process of becoming a Party to the BBNJ Agreement in order to maximise national benefits, as well as safeguard Thailand’s rights, namely, participation in decision making at the Conference of the Parties (COP), access to financial mechanisms, and access to assistance and capacity-building support. These benefits would enhance Thailand’s capacity to access research data and benefit from technical support conducive to the sustainable management of Thailand’s marine resources. In this regard, the meeting approved the establishment of (1) Sub-Committee to prepare an official Thai translation of the BBNJ Agreement and (2) Sub-Committee to review and analyse legal measures necessary to fulfill Thailand’s obligations under the BBNJ Agreement, as part of the country’s preparatory work towards becoming Party to the Agreement.

The BBNJ Agreement aims to regulate, monitor and govern the activities in relation to marine genetic resources (MGRs) and to promote the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from its usage in the areas beyond national jurisdiction, which are considered the common heritage of humankind. The Agreement addresses four key elements: (1) MGRs, including the fair and equitable sharing of benefits; (2) Area Based Management Tools, including Marine Protected Areas; (3) Environmental Impact Assessments; and (4) Capacity Building and the Transfer of Marine Technology).

As 60 States have ratified the BBNJ Agreement thereby fulfilling the condition required for its entry into force, the Agreement will officially enter into force on 17 January 2026.

Images