DFA, Australian Partners Hold Masterclass in Maritime Boundary Delimitation, Dispute Resolution

Philippine government officials with maritime policy functions participate in the Law of the Sea masterclass in maritime boundary delimitation and dispute resolution in Makati City. (DFA-OTLA photo)

MAKATI CITY 25 May 2022 – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), led by the Office of Treaties and Legal Affairs (OTLA), in partnership with the Embassy of Australia in the Philippines, Australia Awards, and the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), conducted the seventh installment of the Law of the Sea Course on 17-20 May 2022. The course was participated in by officials from the DFA and other Philippine agencies with maritime policy functions.

A departure from the general Law of the Sea Courses held in previous years, this year’s iteration zoomed in on maritime boundary delimitation and dispute resolution as legal concepts and political realities. It gave emphasis on the overarching framework under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), relevant international jurisprudence on the subject, technical considerations, and best practices.

The Law of the Sea Course is a key feature of the ongoing partnership between the Philippines and Australia on capacity-building, education, and professional development in maritime governance. It seeks to enhance the expertise of participating officials on both the theoretical underpinnings and practical application of some of the salient provisions of the 1982 UNCLOS. END