International piracy law

International piracy law is international law that is meant to protect against piracy. Throughout history and legal precedents, pirates have been defined as hostis humani generis, Latin for "the enemy of all mankind".[1] The United Nations has codified much of the law in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which defines different types of piracy and ways to combat it.

Piracy threatens maritime security and the legitimate uses of the seas for peaceful purposes[2] and the freedom of navigation (freedom of the seas, Mare Liberum).[3] All ships and countries are free to trade and navigate the oceans, a right which is threatened by piracy.[4] A 2008 report by the International Maritime Organization found 4,821 incidents of modern piracy and maritime armed robbery in the period 1984 to 2008.[5] In these incidents, 6 crew were killed, 42 assaulted, 774 held hostage and 38 crew are unaccounted for.[5]

  1. ^ Shearer, I. (2010). "Piracy". Max Planck Encyclopedias of International Law.
  2. ^ United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Part VII, High Seas, Section I, General Provisions, Article 88. United Nations. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  3. ^ United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Part VII, High Seas, Section 1, General Provisions, Article 87. United Nations. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Report on Acts of Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships, Annual Report -2008. International Maritime Organisation. Retrieved 30 April 2020.