Legal Index

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 titleAbbreviationLegal citationAdoptionEntry into forceParties, (Supporters)Legal status
International Convention for the Protection of Birds Useful to Agriculture (here). 19.03.190206.12.190510Superseded by International Convention for the Protection of Birds, 1950
International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (here)ICRW161 UNTS 7202.12.194610.11.194888Binding, in force
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (here)UDHRA/RES/217(III)10.12.1948n/a(48) at the time of adoptionNon-binding
International Convention for the Protection of Birds (here)18.10.195017.01.196315Binding, 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 Superseded by EU Birds Directive in 1979.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 Protocol189 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 Convention328 UNTS 24726.06.195702.06.195917 (automatic denunciation for those states having ratified ILO Convention 169).
Antarctic Treaty (here)402 UNTS 7101.12.195923.06.196129 Consultative, 25 Non-ConsultativeBinding, in force
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (here)ICCPR999 UNTS 17116.12.196623.03.1976173Binding, in force
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (here)ICESCR993 UNTS 316.12.196603.01.1976171Binding, in force
Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (here)Vienna Convention1155 UNTS 33122.05.196927.01.1980116
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (here)Ramsar Convention996 UNTS 24502.02.197121.12.1975171Binding, in force
Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (here).WHC; World Heritage Convention1037 UNTS 15116.11.197217.12.1975194Binding, in force
Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (here)CCAS1080 UNTS 17511.02.197211.03.197817Binding, in force
Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears (here)Polar Bear Agreement13 ILM 1315.11.197326.05.19765Binding, in force
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (here)CITES993 UNTS 24303.03.197301.07.1975183Binding, in force
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (here)CMS, Bonn Convention1651 UNTS 33323.06.197901.11.1983132Binding (framework convention), in force
Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (here)Berne Convention1284 UNTS 20919.09.197901.06.198251 (Council of Europe Members)Binding, in force
Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living ResourcesCAMLR1329 UNTS 4720.05.198007.04.198235Binding, in force
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (here)UNCLOS1833 UNTS 310.12.198216.11.1994168Binding (framework convention), in force
Convention concerning indigenous and tribal people in independent countries, 1989 (here)ILO 169, Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention1650 UNTS 383 27.06.198905.09.199124Binding, in force
Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas (here)ASCOBANS1772 UNTS 21717.03.199229.03.199410Binding, in force
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (here)UNFCCC1771 UNTS 10709.05.199221.03.1994197Binding (framework convention), in force
Convention on Biological Diversity (here)CBD1760 UNTS 7905.06.199229.12.1993196Binding (framework convention), in force
Agreement on Cooperation in Research, Conservation and Management of Marine Mammals in the North Atlantic (here)NAMMCO Agreementn/a09.04.199208.07.19924Binding, in force
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa (here)UNCCD1954 UNTS 317.06.199426.12.1996197Binding, 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 Agreement2167 UNTS 304.08.199511.12.200192
Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (here)Aarhus Convention2161 UNTS 44725.06.199830.10.200147Binding, in force
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (here)UNDRIPA/RES/61/29513.09.2007n/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 28616.09.200931.10.200927 Binding for EU Member States
African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (here)Kampala Conventionn/a23.10.200906.12.201255Binding, in force
Kampala Declaration on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons in AfricaKampala DeclarationExt/Assembly/
AU/PA/Draft/Decl.(I) Rev.1
28.10.200955Declaration, non-binding
Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (here)PSMAI-5413322.11.200905.06.201669, incl. EUBinding, 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 RegimeOJ L 27116.10.201527Binding for EU Member States
Agreement to Prevent Unregulated High Seas Fisheries in the Central Arctic OceanCAO Fisheries Agreementn/a17.10.201825.06.202110Binding, in force
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (here)UNDROPA/RES/73/16517.12.2018n/a(121)Declaration, non-binding

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