Wednesday, 15 November 2023: Day 1

Third Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians for the Oceans (CAP-Oceans):

The High Seas Treaty: A Historic Milestone in Ocean Protection for All People of Present & Future Generations

On 20 September 2023, the High Seas Treaty¹ opened for signature with 75 States signing within the first two days. This overwhelming momentum for the High Seas Treaty is a historic milestone in ocean protection for all people of present and future generations. The High Seas Treaty provides a legal framework to ensure conservation and sustainable use of and access to marine genetic resources. Nearly two decades after initial discussions began at the United Nations in 2004, the Treaty is a momentous opportunity for this common heritage of humankind.

The High Seas Treaty reinforces both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which includes a commitment to protect and conserve at least 30 percent of our planet’s land and ocean areas by 2030. The Treaty will establish the framework for the creation of marine protected areas on the high seas and guide decision-makers on how to assess the environmental impacts of human activities in these areas. The health of our ocean is inherently linked to the health of our planet and therefore directly to the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

With 83 signatories today, it is crucial that this momentum continues, recalling also Article 18 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties on signatories’ “obligation not to defeat the object and purpose of a treaty prior to its entry into force.” A multi-stakeholder approach is needed to achieve the goal of the Treaty’s entry into force with 60 ratifications by the 2025 UN Ocean Conference co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, with parliamentarians playing a key role in promoting and protecting human rights for all people of present and future generations, to build resilience in the face of the climate crisis, maintain essential biodiversity, and to support the air we breathe.

During the 3^rd Consultative Assembly of Parliamentarians for the Protection of the Oceans (CAP-Oceans) held within the framework of PGA’s 44^th Annual Forum, hosted by the Parliament of Seychelles, participants will:

• Discuss the importance of the High Seas Treaty;
• Exchange experiences and lessons learnt from fellow parliamentarians, exploring opportunities and challenges towards the ratification of the High Seas Treaty;

As an outcome of PGA’s 44^th Annual Forum, participants will adopt the Victoria Plan of Action recognizing the importance of the High Seas Treaty from a human rights-based perspective and commit to the signature, ratification, and implementation of the Treaty, in line with commitments made in 2019 Praia Plan of Action and 2021 Belmopan Plan of Action.

Footnotes

Thursday, 16 November 2023: Day 2

Securing Democracy in a Digital Age: Launch of the Parliamentary Toolbox for Democracy Defense and Protecting Women Parliamentarians in the face of Cyberattacks

Objective: Launch PGA’s Parliamentary Toolbox for Democracy Defense and provide a platform for parliamentarians to share experiences and lessons learned on how cyberattacks on female parliamentarians, particularly, can imperil democratic processes. Participants will have an opportunity to discuss the global call for a UN Special Rapporteur’s mandate on Democracy.