Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
- Context: Wildlife experts from various countries are gathering in Geneva, Switzerland, for the 34th meeting of the Animals Committee of CITES.
About CITES
- CITES was adopted in 1973 and entered into force in 1975.
- It is an international agreement comprising 185 Parties (184 countries and the European Union).
- The agreement regulates the international trade of wild animals and plants.
- Its primary objective is to ensure that international trade is legal, sustainable, and traceable, while also ensuring that it does not threaten the survival of wildlife species.
Functions of CITES
- CITES controls international trade through a system of permits and certificates issued under specific conditions.
- It regulates the export, import, re-export, and introduction from the sea of the following:
- Live and dead wild animals and plants.
- Their parts, derivatives, and processed products.
- Although CITES is legally binding on member nations, each country must implement it through its own national legislation.
CITES Secretariat
- The CITES Secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
- It is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Conference of the Parties (COP)
- Member nations meet at the ‘Conference of the Parties’ every 2–3 years.
- During this meeting, they:
- Review the implementation of the agreement.
- They update the list of species requiring protection.
- They make decisions regarding wildlife trade and conservation.
CITES Appendices
- Appendix I
- Includes species threatened with extinction.
- These species receive the highest level of protection.
- Commercial international trade is generally prohibited.
- Appendix II
- Includes species that are not currently threatened with extinction but could become so if trade is not regulated.
- International trade is permitted only with an export permit.
- The exporting country must ensure the following:
- The specimens were obtained legally.
- The trade will not harm the species’ survival or its role in the ecosystem.
- Appendix III
- Includes species that a country has asked other CITES member nations to help protect by controlling international trade.
- Trade is regulated through:
- Export permits issued by the country that listed the species.
- Certificates of origin issued by other countries.
- A country can add a species protected under its national laws to ‘Appendix III’ at any time.
The United Nations Security Council
- CONTEXT: India is set to launch its campaign for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council for 2028-29, reflecting its larger ambition to strengthen its role in global governance and champion the interests of the Global South.
About the United Nations Security Council
- About: The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was established in 1945 under the UN Charter and is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, responsible for maintaining international peace and security.
- Composition: The Council has 15 members—5 permanent members (P5) (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) with veto power, and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
- Regional Representation: The 10 non-permanent seats are distributed regionally: 5 for African and Asian States, 1 for Eastern European States, 2 for Latin American and Caribbean States, and 2 for Western European and Other States.
- Election Process: Non-permanent members are elected every year through a secret ballot, requiring a two-thirds majority in the UNGA, even if there is only one candidate.
- Authority: The UNSC is the only UN organ whose resolutions are legally binding on all UN member states under the UN Charter.
