BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC – Belize is hosting a regional workshop aimed at enhancing knowledge of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement while providing Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS) with the technical support needed for their accession to and implementation of the accord.
The BBNJ agreement recognizes SIDS’s unique challenges and ensures their specific circumstances are considered. It also promotes their active participation in the agreement’s decision-making processes alongside other developing countries.
Earlier this year, Belize became the first Caribbean country to ratify this crucial ocean biodiversity agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade said this ratification aligns with Belize’s Medium-Term Development Strategy, which focuses on marine conservation, halting biodiversity loss, and protecting our oceans.
“Belize’s efforts, such as the moratorium on offshore oil exploration, the ban on gillnets, and the creation and expansion of protected marine areas, reflect its leadership role in ocean and marine preservation across the Caribbean,” the ministry added.
With funding from the United Kingdom, the workshop is organized by the United Nations’ Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea. It brings together participants from across the Caribbean.
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