The Place of Non-Aggravation in the Peaceful Settlement of Territorial and Maritime Disputes

Abstract

The present paper argues that the ‘non-aggravation of disputes’ is a fundamental principle of international law. Evidence of the non-aggravation of disputes as a principle of international law has long existed in the work of qualified publicists and in numerous multilateral treaties with dispute settlement provisions, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. International courts and tribunals have indicated ‘non-aggravation measures’ to preserve the subject matter of the dispute and the rights of either party to the dispute. The principle of non-aggravation is gaining recognition and importance in the broader context of the peaceful settlement of international disputes, particularly territorial and maritime disputes which are often prone to armed escalation and pose risks to peace and security.