UN-OCEANS
An inter-agency mechanism on ocean and coastal issues within the UN system
UN-Oceans is an inter-agency mechanism that seeks to enhance the coordination, coherence and effectiveness of competent organizations of the United Nations system and the International Seabed Authority in relation to activities relating to oceans and coastal areas, within existing resources, in conformity with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the respective competences of each of its participating organizations and the mandates and priorities approved by their respective governing bodies.
UN-Oceans terms of reference were adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 68/70 (2013) (annex), with the United Nations Legal Counsel/Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea designated as the UN-Oceans Focal Point.
UN-Oceans functions as a coordination and information-sharing mechanism without a dedicated secretariat, staff, or budget. All its activities are held within existing resources, and meetings of the representatives of the secretariats of participating organizations and bodies are held virtually.
A Trust Fund, established by the Assembly in 2014 to assist, to a limited extent, with the operations of UN-Oceans, has received no contributions so far.
UN-Oceans was established by the United Nations High-Level Committee on Programmes in 2003 in the follow-up to the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. Its creation responded to the call addressed to the Secretary-General to establish an effective, transparent and regular inter-agency coordination mechanism on ocean and coastal issues within the United Nations system.
UN-Oceans held its first meeting in Paris in January 2005. In 2013, the General Assembly recognized the work undertaken so far and approved revised terms of reference for the work of UN-Oceans.
UN-Oceans is mandated to: