UN General Assembly
1983

85. The signing of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in December 1982, marked the beginning of the regulation, in a legitimate manner, of a new international legal regime to govern the uses of oceans. One significant aspect of the Convention is the provision on the concept of the "common heritage of mankind". Since the sea, the seabed and the ocean floor all constitute a common heritage of mankind, it is the obligation of members of the international community to come together under the Convention so as to exploit peacefully the resources of the sea-bed and ocean floor for the advantage of all peoples. The concept of the common heritage of mankind offers a chance for reducing rivalry and conflict, and it merits extension to other fields such as outer space. We hope it will commend itself to those who because of their present technological superiority are not inclined to see its value. The world must have learned by now the lessons of a free-for-all policy, whether in the acquisition of colonial territories or spheres of influence, or in the pursuit of material advantage or superiority in the field of armaments.