On this page I provide information on the most relevant legal instruments concerning people, conservation and livelihoods and those that I have been dealing with most regularly on this blog. This is not a comprehensive list, but will be updated regularly. The instruments are sorted by their date of adoption.
| Full title | Abbreviation | Legal citation | Adoption | Entry into force | Parties, (Supporters) | Legal status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Convention for the Protection of Birds Useful to Agriculture (here). | 19.03.1902 | 06.12.1905 | 10 | Superseded by International Convention for the Protection of Birds, 1950 | ||
| International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (here) | ICRW | 161 UNTS 72 | 02.12.1946 | 10.11.1948 | 88 | Binding, in force |
| Universal Declaration of Human Rights (here) | UDHR | A/RES/217(III) | 10.12.1948 | n/a | (48) at the time of adoption | Non-binding |
| International Convention for the Protection of Birds (here) | 18.10.1950 | 17.01.1963 | 15 | Binding, in force for non-EU members. Superseded by EU Birds Directive in 1979. | ||
| Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees (here) | Refugee Convention and its Protocol | 189 UNTS 137 (Convention) 606 UNTS 267 (Protocol) | 28 July 1951 (Convention) 31 January 1967 (Protocol) | 22 April 1954 (Convention) 4 October 1967 (Protocol) | Convention: 145 Protocol: 146 | Binding; in force |
| Convention concerning the Protection and Integration of Indigenous and Other Tribal and Semi-Tribal Populations in Independent Countries (here). | ILO Convention 107; Indigenous and Tribal Populations Convention | 328 UNTS 247 | 26.06.1957 | 02.06.1959 | 17 (automatic denunciation for those states having ratified ILO Convention 169). | |
| Antarctic Treaty (here) | 402 UNTS 71 | 01.12.1959 | 23.06.1961 | 29 Consultative, 25 Non-Consultative | Binding, in force | |
| International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (here) | ICCPR | 999 UNTS 171 | 16.12.1966 | 23.03.1976 | 173 | Binding, in force |
| International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (here) | ICESCR | 993 UNTS 3 | 16.12.1966 | 03.01.1976 | 171 | Binding, in force |
| Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (here) | Vienna Convention | 1155 UNTS 331 | 22.05.1969 | 27.01.1980 | 116 | |
| Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (here) | Ramsar Convention | 996 UNTS 245 | 02.02.1971 | 21.12.1975 | 171 | Binding, in force |
| Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (here). | WHC; World Heritage Convention | 1037 UNTS 151 | 16.11.1972 | 17.12.1975 | 194 | Binding, in force |
| Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (here) | CCAS | 1080 UNTS 175 | 11.02.1972 | 11.03.1978 | 17 | Binding, in force |
| Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears (here) | Polar Bear Agreement | 13 ILM 13 | 15.11.1973 | 26.05.1976 | 5 | Binding, in force |
| Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (here) | CITES | 993 UNTS 243 | 03.03.1973 | 01.07.1975 | 183 | Binding, in force |
| Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (here) | CMS, Bonn Convention | 1651 UNTS 333 | 23.06.1979 | 01.11.1983 | 132 | Binding (framework convention), in force |
| Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (here) | Berne Convention | 1284 UNTS 209 | 19.09.1979 | 01.06.1982 | 51 (Council of Europe Members) | Binding, in force |
| Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources | CAMLR | 1329 UNTS 47 | 20.05.1980 | 07.04.1982 | 35 | Binding, in force |
| United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (here) | UNCLOS | 1833 UNTS 3 | 10.12.1982 | 16.11.1994 | 168 | Binding (framework convention), in force |
| Convention concerning indigenous and tribal people in independent countries, 1989 (here) | ILO 169, Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention | 1650 UNTS 383 | 27.06.1989 | 05.09.1991 | 24 | Binding, in force |
| Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (here) | ASCOBANS | 1772 UNTS 217 | 17.03.1992 | 29.03.1994 | 10 | Binding, in force |
| United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (here) | UNFCCC | 1771 UNTS 107 | 09.05.1992 | 21.03.1994 | 197 | Binding (framework convention), in force |
| Convention on Biological Diversity (here) | CBD | 1760 UNTS 79 | 05.06.1992 | 29.12.1993 | 196 | Binding (framework convention), in force |
| Agreement on Cooperation in Research, Conservation and Management of Marine Mammals in the North Atlantic (here) | NAMMCO Agreement | n/a | 09.04.1992 | 08.07.1992 | 4 | Binding, in force |
| United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa (here) | UNCCD | 1954 UNTS 3 | 17.06.1994 | 26.12.1996 | 197 | Binding, in force |
| Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks (here) | Fish Stocks Agreement | 2167 UNTS 3 | 04.08.1995 | 11.12.2001 | 92 | |
| Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (here) | Aarhus Convention | 2161 UNTS 447 | 25.06.1998 | 30.10.2001 | 47 | Binding, in force |
| United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (here) | UNDRIP | A/RES/61/295 | 13.09.2007 | n/a | (148) | Declaration, non-binding |
| Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 on Trade in Seal Products (here) | EU Seal Regime (with implementing regulation) | OJ L 286 | 16.09.2009 | 31.10.2009 | 27 | Binding for EU Member States |
| African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (here) | Kampala Convention | n/a | 23.10.2009 | 06.12.2012 | 55 | Binding, in force |
| Kampala Declaration on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa | Kampala Declaration | Ext/Assembly/ AU/PA/Draft/Decl.(I) Rev.1 | 28.10.2009 | 55 | Declaration, non-binding | |
| Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (here) | PSMA | I-54133 | 22.11.2009 | 05.06.2016 | 69, incl. EU | Binding, in force |
| Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1850 of 13 October 2015 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on trade in seal products (here) | EU Seal Regime | OJ L 271 | 16.10.2015 | 27 | Binding for EU Member States | |
| Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean | CAO Fisheries Agreement | n/a | 17.10.2018 | 25.06.2021 | 10 | Binding, in force |
| United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (here) | UNDROP | A/RES/73/165 | 17.12.2018 | n/a | (121) | Declaration, non-binding |
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