The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives, Moosa Zameer, officially deposited the Instrument of Ratification for the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea concerning the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), along with the Instrument of Accession for the Minamata Convention on Mercury. This significant event took place at the UN Headquarters in New York today.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu initiated the process to seek parliamentary approval for the Maldives to join the Minamata Convention on Mercury on December 11, 2023. The Maldives signed the BBNJ Agreement on September 3, 2024, and both agreements received the backing of the People’s Majlis, the Maldivian parliament, on May 13, 2024. With this move, the Maldives has become the eighth country to ratify the BBNJ Agreement and the 150th country to accede to the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
The Government of Maldives reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the ocean and its resources while ensuring the safety of lives, livelihoods, public health, and the environment from the dangers posed by toxic heavy metals, including mercury.
The BBNJ Agreement, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2013, is open for signature until September 20, 2025. Meanwhile, the Minamata Convention on Mercury was also adopted in 2013 under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aiming to address the global challenges posed by mercury pollution.
These ratifications signify the Maldives' proactive stance in international efforts to promote sustainable marine practices and protect environmental health, reinforcing its dedication to global environmental stewardship.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu initiated the process to seek parliamentary approval for the Maldives to join the Minamata Convention on Mercury on December 11, 2023. The Maldives signed the BBNJ Agreement on September 3, 2024, and both agreements received the backing of the People’s Majlis, the Maldivian parliament, on May 13, 2024. With this move, the Maldives has become the eighth country to ratify the BBNJ Agreement and the 150th country to accede to the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
The Government of Maldives reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the ocean and its resources while ensuring the safety of lives, livelihoods, public health, and the environment from the dangers posed by toxic heavy metals, including mercury.
The BBNJ Agreement, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2013, is open for signature until September 20, 2025. Meanwhile, the Minamata Convention on Mercury was also adopted in 2013 under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), aiming to address the global challenges posed by mercury pollution.
These ratifications signify the Maldives' proactive stance in international efforts to promote sustainable marine practices and protect environmental health, reinforcing its dedication to global environmental stewardship.
