The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea is an independent judicial body established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to adjudicate disputes arising out of the interpretation and application of the Convention. The Tribunal is open to States, international organizations and other entities. The "Yearbook" will give lawyers, scholars, students as well as the general public easy access to information about the jurisdiction, procedure and organization of the Tribunal and also about its composition and activities in 2002. The "Yearbook" was prepared by the Registry of the Tribunal. The "Yearbook" is also available in French (Annuaire).