Philippine maritime stakeholders welcomed the recently adopted resolution of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) promoting and protecting seafarers’ rights.
In separate statements, the Associated Marine Officers and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (Amosup), Women in Maritime Philippines (Wimaphil), and Association of Licensed Manning Agencies (Alma) Maritime Group welcomed the resolution.
Titled “Promoting and Protecting the Enjoyment of Human Rights by Seafarers,” it is the first of its kind to be introduced and adopted by the UNHRC.
“The resolution adopted by the HRC finally recognizes the reality that seafarers face — the challenging working and living conditions at sea that could pose risks to their lives and safety, especially amid extraordinary circumstances, such as health emergencies, conflicts arising from geopolitical tensions, and various forms of violence and harassment,” Amosup said in a statement.
Amosup is the largest and one of the oldest seafarers’ unions in the Philippines with over 90,000 members.
The same was affirmed by Wimaphil, commending the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for promoting seafarers’ rights and well-being at the height of vessel attacks in war-torn countries.
“We laud the efforts of the DFA to push for the promotion of seafarers’ rights and their well-being in light of the series of attacks on vessels that ply the routes of war-torn countries and high-risk areas, including those with military tension and piracy activities,” Wimaphil said.
“Wimaphil strongly supports the action taken by DFA, specifically, this resolution to protect women seafarers from further acts of violence and ensure their safety on board,” it added.
The resolution was adopted by consensus on July 11 during UNHRC’s 56th Session in Geneva, Switzerland.
It was a Philippine initiative, shepherded by the DFA through the Philippine Mission in Geneva and co-sponsored by 28 other countries.
“This milestone resolution by the Human Rights Council advances advocacy of the Philippines, other foreign governments, relevant international organizations, and stakeholders to protect and promote the well-being of some 1.9 million seafarers, over a quarter of them Filipinos. It acknowledges that seafarers brave challenging conditions at sea that pose risks to their enjoyment of human rights, safety and well-being. Seafarers conduct their duties, even at times under dangerous conditions,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said.
While 37 existing conventions on seafarers’ rights to decent working and living conditions, employment agreements, and safety protection, among others, are already consolidated in a single instrument through the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) 2006, the UNHRC’s resolution reinforces the safety of seafarers, especially those who ply the war-like zone areas in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.
“UNHRC’s adoption of the resolution that promotes and protects the welfare of seafarers is a welcome move. We also hope that this complements the guidelines set by the International Transport Workers Federation and the International Bargaining Forum designating the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden as high-risk areas and war-like zones,” Christina Garcia, Alma Maritime Group president, said.
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