The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Tuesday lauded the adoption of a United Nations Human Rights Council (UN-HRC) resolution that seeks to protect and promote the human rights of seafarers around the world.
The resolution will allow the Philippine government to “advance the rights and interest of Filipino seafarers” who make up over a quarter of the roughly 2 million seafarers globally, the DOTr said in a statement.
“Aspiring for the Philippines to be recognized as the ‘Maritime Capital of the World,’ we will ensure the rights and welfare of Filipino seafarers are properly protected,” it said.
The resolution calls on states, representatives of shipowners, and seafarers to enhance the enforcement of the Maritime Labor Convention to ensure safe and decent living and working conditions for all seafarers.
These include respecting the rights of seafarers to decide whether to sail in high-risk areas and to eliminate all forms of forced or compulsory labor in the shipping industry.
The initiative, it said, was made possible through the efforts of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Mission in Geneva.
“We also thank the 28 countries who co-sponsored this first-ever UN-HRC resolution [on the rights of seafarers],” it said.
On Friday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said the adoption of the UN-HRC resolution titled “Promoting and Protecting the Enjoyment of Human Rights by Seafarers” acknowledges that seafarers brave challenging conditions at sea that pose risks to their human rights, safety, and well-being.
The resolution, Manalo said, affirms that safe and decent living and working conditions at sea are a “human rights imperative.”
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