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Islands and International Law

A feature of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is the regime of islands. The convention was drafted to give clarity to the status of islands in the law of the sea, and their maritime entitlements, but the regime remains incomplete. China’s rejection of the 2016 South China Sea arbitral award and the response of many large coastal states to the tribunal’s interpretation of the juridical island/rock distinction shows how contested these issues are. Canada and Denmark may have settled their disagreement over Hans Island/Tartupaluk, yet islands are becoming ever more prominent in international law. Territorial disputes over islands are potential flashpoints between global powers. The maritime entitlements of islands are challenged. Island states are seeking reinterpretation of the law of the sea to address threats posed by sea-level rise.

Hybrid Event:

In Person Location: Law Building, Room 202 RSVP to lawevents@queensu.ca to register

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