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 | 19.03.1902 | 06.12.1905 | 10 | Superseded by International Convention for the Protection of Birds, 1950 | ||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 Superseded by EU Birds Directive in 1979.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 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | 13.06.2007 | 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) | UNROP | A/RES/73/165 | 17.12.2018 | n/a | (121) | Declaration, non-binding |
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