链接地址：http://www.un.org/Depts/los/

　　The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Office of Legal Affairs has consistently been recognized for its role in contributing to the wider acceptance and rational and consistent application of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

　　Its mandate, as spelled out by the General Assembly of the United Nations and in the Secretary-General' s Bulletin, is to carry out the responsibilities entrusted to the Secretary-General upon the adoption of the Convention and fulfil the functions associated with its entry into force. More specifically, the Division monitors developments in all relevant areas in order to report annually to the General Assembly on matters relating to the law of the sea and ocean affairs. Further, it formulates recommendations to the Assembly and other intergovernmental forums aimed at promoting a better understanding of the Convention, and ensures that the Organization has the capacity to respond to requests for advice and assistance from States in the implementation of the Convention.

　　The Division serves as the secretariat of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and provides information, advice and assistance to States with a view to promoting a better understanding of the Convention and the related Agreements, their wider acceptance, uniform and consistent application and effective implementation.

　　Since 1999, the Division has serviced the meetings of the United Nations Open-ended informal consultative process on oceans and the law of the sea established by the General Assembly in its resolution 54/33 in order to facilitate its annual review, in an effective and constructive manner, of developments in ocean affairs by considering the Secretary-General抯 annual reports on oceans and the law of the sea and by suggesting particular issues to be considered by the General Assembly.

　　The Division also provides secretariat services to the Meetings of States Parties to the Convention and to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

　　The Division maintains and routinely updates a comprehensive information system and reference library on the law of the sea and ocean affairs, including databases on ocean-related legislative materials, national profiles and marine mineral resources.

　　As part of its continuing effort to promote understanding of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, its wider acceptance, uniform and consistent application, and effective implementation, the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea has undertaken educational and training programmes aimed at capacity building at the national level and the regional levels, for the purpose of achieving these goals. The Division' s educational activities are carried out primarily under the Hamilton Shirley Memorial Fellowship Programme, and its training activities under the TRAIN-SEA-COAST Programme, as well as the Technical Cooperation Trust Fund Agreement Between the United Nations and the Nippon Foundation of Japan.