Seminar Hosted by the Mediterranean Diplomatic Academy “Concluding Address”

Atsuko Kanehara, Research Director, gave Concluding Address, for the seminar, ”Navigating Global Obligations: A Diplomat’s Guide to the Doctrine of Common Concern of Humankind,”（Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies-Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Supported by the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs, Malta）on the 13th 13th of October, 2026 in Malta.

In this seminar, the concept of “common concern of humankind” was dealt with from various perspectives, such as Roles of Small and Island States, Obligations and Responsibilities Derived from the Concept of Common Concern of Humankind, and Its Significance under the Law of the Sea.

Based upon this, her Concluding Address examined the significance of the concept of “common concern of humankind” from a perspective of historical development of international law rules regulating and restricting on sovereignty. 

First, the modern European international law emerged based upon the sovereign State system where sovereign Stares had omnipotence and full discretion in their territories. The establishment of international administrative unions gave territorial sovereignty and territory different significance as follows. Territorial sovereignty became a responsible entity to ensure the international regulation set by the international administrative unions in its territory.

Second, in the latter half of the 20th century, mainly, the development of international regulation for human rights protection and the protection of environment (within territory), meant “vertical” penetration of international regulation into sovereignty. This is by introducing the concept of ”matters of international concern” in place of traditionally matters of domestic jurisdiction. 

The concept of “common concern of humankind” in the context of climate change reflects these two developments of international law in regulating and restricting sovereignty.
 
From now on, expected development is to substantiate the obligations and responsibilities in accordance with the concept of “common concern of humankind” under each relevant treaty regime, and beyond that, to establish an obligation and responsibility under general international law.
 
We need to precisely recognize the reality of international society. International society still exists based upon the sovereign States system. Sovereign States pursue their national interests depending on their territories, and they have kept certain matters of domestic jurisdiction.

Important agenda for us is to seek a balance between the newly emerging world of further cooperation in reflecting the concept of the “common concern of humankind,” on the one hand, and the world of the remaining traditional sovereign State system, on the other hand.

Seminar Videos：

Seminar Hosted by the Mediterranean Diplomatic Academy “Concluding Address”

【Related Works by Research Director Atsuko Kanehara】

• Atsuko Kanehara, “Challenges of the BBNJ Agreement: from the Perspective of Japan’s Ratification,”
  https://cigs.canon/en/article/20260206_9681.html
• Atsuko Kanehara, “Significance of the BBNJ Agreement from the Perspective of the Historical Development of the Law of the Sea,”
  https://cigs.canon/en/article/20240510_8077.html
• Atsuko Kanehara, “Applicability of Precautionary Principle Reconsidered,”
  https://cigs.canon/en/article/20240807_8266.html
• Atsuko Kanehara, “Interplay between the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Other International Law for Building a Comprehensive International Maritime Order,” Japanese Yearbook of International Law Vol. 63 (2020), pp. 52-92.