Editing Search and rescue (section)

==2.1 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)==

[[United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea|The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)]] provides a legal framework for various maritime activities, including sea rescue operations. This framework can be introduced as a two-step process. First, states are sorted into groups depending on activity and typical interest in the sea, principally coastal states and flag states. Second, the sea is divided into different zones (the territorial sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone, the continental shelf, and the high seas) where different categories of states have different authority.

UNCLOS does establish the legal basis for conducting such operations by outlining key principles and obligations related to maritime safety and search and rescue at sea. These principles contribute to the legitimacy of sea rescue efforts:

'''1.	Duty to Render Assistance''': UNCLOS, under its article 98,<ref>{{cite web |title=United Nations. |url=https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf. |website=United Nations. |access-date=15 October 2023}}</ref> places an obligation on all vessels and aircraft to render assistance to any person found at sea in danger of being lost and to inform the appropriate authorities. This duty underscores the moral and legal imperative to provide assistance to those in distress at sea.

[[Non-refoulement|2. Non-refoulment principle]]: While UNCLOS doesn't explicitly mention the principle of non-refoulement, it is a fundamental aspect of international refugee law and human rights law, which plays a significant role in the legitimacy of sea rescue. Non-refoulement prohibits returning individuals to places where their lives or freedoms might be threatened.

'''3.	SAR Regions and Coordination:''' UNCLOS encourages the establishment of search and rescue (SAR) regions and coordination centres. These provisions promote efficient and effective responses to maritime distress situations, enhancing the legitimacy of rescue efforts.