What is the primary legal instrument that addresses piracy under international law?

The primary legal instrument that addresses piracy under international law is the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This convention, adopted in 1982, provides a comprehensive framework for the governance of the world's oceans and seas, detailing the rights and responsibilities of states concerning their use.

Specifically, UNCLOS includes provisions that define piracy, detailing the criteria for acts that can be categorized as piracy. It also sets forth the jurisdictional principles that allow states to suppress piracy and establish mechanisms for cooperation in combating such acts. This makes UNCLOS a critical legal instrument in the fight against piracy, as it not only recognizes the crime but also facilitates a coordinated international response.

The other options listed, while they may touch on aspects of maritime law or humanitarian law, do not specifically focus on piracy in the same comprehensive way that UNCLOS does. For instance, the Geneva Convention primarily pertains to humanitarian issues in armed conflict, while the Hague Convention deals with specific aspects of international governance and humanitarian treatment but does not specifically address piracy directly. International Maritime Law is a broader term that encompasses multiple treaties and conventions but lacks the specificity related to piracy that UNCLOS provides.