The Law of the Sea

Abstract Latin American States have made significant, yet often overlooked, contributions to the development of international law, particularly the Law of the Sea. This chapter delves into these contributions focusing in two historical periods: (i) the development of the maritime zones and (ii) the participation of the region in the treaties regarding the Law of the Sea and the pathway that led to the current 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Convention. The chapter explores the Latin American influence on the evolution of key concepts for the Law of the Sea, both from historic and legal perspectives, such as the notion of historic bays, the territorial seas, the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf. This chapter also examines the role of Latin American States in promoting discussions that led to the shaping of the 1982 UNCLOS. By highlighting these contributions, this chapter aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the history of international law and the Law of the Sea emphasizing the processes that allowed to turn regional proposals into universal rules.