What is the Law of the Sea Tribunal (ITLOS)?

The Law of the Sea Tribunal, or International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), is an independent judicial body established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). ITLOS is based in Hamburg, Germany, and is authorized to adjudicate disputes between states concerning the interpretation and application of the UNCLOS, which sets out the legal framework for the uses of the world’s oceans and seas. ITLOS’s job is to interpret and apply the Convention to disputes brought before it by the parties involved in the dispute. Its arbitration and settlement proceedings are confidential and binding upon the parties. ITLOS may also give advisory opinions on issues of law referred to it by other organs of the United Nations, such as the General Assembly, the Security Council or other specialized agencies. ITLOS is composed of 21 independent members who are elected by the UN General Assembly for a 9-year term. The Tribunal is authorized to form Chambers for the conduct of proceedings in relation to disputes that involve more than two states or when steps in a dispute involve particular specialist expertise. ITLOS is the only international legal body that is specifically devoted to the implementation and interpretation of UNCLOS. It provides an efficient, final and binding resolution of the disputes that arise between states and, at the same time, helps to ensure the stability of the international order.

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What is the Law of the Sea Tribunal (ITLOS)?

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