Distinguished Co-chairs,
Excellencies,
USG Rabab Fatima,
Distinguished delegates,
Dear Colleagues of Legal counsel,
It is my profound honour to address the twenty-fifth meeting of the 51Ó°Ôº Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea.
For a quarter century, this annual gathering has been instrumental in advancing the sustainable use, conservation, and responsible governance of our ocean and marine resources, under the framework of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
This process has facilitated crucial, open and inclusive dialogue on the pressing challenges facing our oceans.
Your collective engagement and expertise have enriched our shared understanding and contributed to shaping global ocean governance.
This year¡¯s theme, "Capacity Building and the Transfer of Marine Technology," is particularly timely, following the successful and productive 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice last week.
As we heard repeatedly during the Ocean Conference, capacity building and the transfer of marine technology are not just priorities, but prerequisites for achieving SDG 14 and advancing an inclusive and sustainable ocean future.
Developing countries and Small Island Developing States have strongly emphasized this priority.
Strengthening the science-policy interface and ensuring sustained financing remain crucial for transforming our commitments into tangible action.
The recent adoption of the BBNJ Agreement under UNCLOS is a landmark achievement. The momentum from the UN Ocean Conference has brought us closer to its entry into force. However, ensuring its effective implementation required our continued dedication.
My department, UN DESA, remains fully committed to collaborating with all partners to bridge gaps, build trust and enhance capacities, ensuring that no country and no one is left behind.
To that end, I am pleased to announce that the second iteration of the UN DESA-Portugal Ocean Fellowship Programme will be conducted this October. This multi-year capacity-building initiative will empower ocean policymakers from developing countries, fostering a new generation of leaders to guide us on ocean governance and toward a sustainable, ocean-based economy through 2030.
Distinguished delegates,
Dear colleagues,
I extend my sincere appreciation to the Co-Chairs for their invaluable leadership, and to all participants for your dedication.
Looking forward to benefiting from the outcomes of your deliberations as we collectively forge a path toward a resilient and sustainable ocean future.
Thank you.