The International Maritime Organisation is a specialised agency of the  United Nations. It has the responsibility of ensuring the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships. 

 

The East and South China Seas are the scenes of escalating territorial disputes between China and its neighbours, including Japan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Maritime security in Southeast Asia in general and the South China Sea, in particular, is an issue that has taken on a vital role in recent years as a result of the convergence of two main factors. The first is the added importance of maritime resources and Exclusive Economic Zones as a result of the Third United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Secondly, maritime security issues have gained even more importance as the role of maritime forces moves from support for the domestic regime to protecting the state from external threats and non-traditional threats such as piracy, drugs, illegal migration, and terrorism.

 

With this, we introduce to you, the International Maritime Organisation at the Strawberry Fields High School Model United Nations 2022, with the agenda being - Combating Illicit Maritime Activities in the South China Sea with Special Emphasis on External Stakeholders.