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 2001. The Yearbook was prepared by the Registry of the Tribunal. The Tribunal has also published a volume of Basic Texts which contains documents that are fundamental to the mandate and operation of the Tribunal and which provides the essential documentation relating to the law and procedure applicable to the Tribunal. The "Yearbook" is also available in French (Annuaire).