The Philippines, the world’s leading supplier of the global maritime workforce, vowed to continue to champion the protection of seafarers’ human rights and dignity as it brings forth discussion on the plight of these workers, who practically move the global economy.
Executive Secretary and Former Chief Justice Lucas P. Bersamin emphasized this point in a keynote address at the opening International Conference on Seafarers’ Human Rights, Safety, and Well-Being, in Manila on Monday, September 1. The three-day conference brought together experts, scholars, practitioners and advocates from over 30 countries, 10 international organizations and 27 civil society organizations and industry partners.
Bersamin explained that the same principles- human rights, human dignity, rules-based international order anchored on anchored on international law and principles of justice and equity – steadily guide the Philippines’ bid for membership in the UN Security Council for 2027-2028, the Human Rights Council for 2028-2030, and the International Maritime Organization for 2026-2027.
“We seek a seat at these bodies with a clear purpose – to be a strong voice for multilateralism, human rights and human dignity and a rules-based international order,” he said.
Bersamin even quoted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s speech at the 2023 Summit for Democracy: “the Philippines will sustain its tradition of open, constructive, and active engagement on human rights.”
The former Supreme Court Chief Justice reiterated that the Philippines will make sure that the rights of all seafarers and their well-being is at the center of discussions on global maritime governance. “People and their dignity should be at the core of our conversations and our visions,” said Bersamin.
In this spirit, Bersamin said the Philippines initiated last year the first-ever resolution on seafarers’ rights, which was adopted by consensus by the Human Rights Council with the support of key players in the industry.
This landmark measure, Human Rights Council Resolution on Promoting and Protecting the Enjoyment of Human Rights of Seafarers, was championed by the Philippines and co-sponsored by 40 other nations, including Bangladesh, Spain, and Sri Lanka, whose high-level representatives are with us this morning.
In the president’s State of the Nation Address last year, Marcos also underscored that ensuring safe and decent working atsea is, indeed, “a human rights imperative”.
As the world’s largest source of the global shipping workforce, Bersamin said the Marcos administration has long recognized that this important work must start in the Philippines.
Thus, in September last year, the Philippines enacted the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, with its Implementing Rules and Regulations adopted last February.
This landmark legislation guarantees a comprehensive set of rights and benefits to protect and empower Filipino seafarers.
“The Magna Carta is both a recognition of seafarers’ vital role and an unwavering commitment to human rights and dignity,” he said.
Given the transnational nature of global shipping, Bersamin added that this commitment extends beyond the Philippine shores. “Protecting seafarers is necessarily a shared responsibility among governments, industry, seafarers’ unions, and civil society. The new imperative outlined by the Human Rights Council resolution affirm that in the face of new and complex challenges, multilateralism – despite its limitations – remains the most viable vessel for collective action in pursuit of the common good,” he said.
Nearly 90 percent of global trade flows through seas and oceans. In 2023 alone, maritime global trade reached 12.3 billion tons.
This makes the seafarers the ballast of the world economy, steadying supply chains, ensuring that the flow of goods does not stall, even in times of crisis.” They are key workers in a strategic industry without whom our societies, as we know them, simply cannot function,” he said.
Human toll
During the COVID-19 pandemic, while the world came to a standstill, seafarers kept ships moving to deliver food, fuel, medicines and other life-sustaining goods across the globe.
As borders closed, thousands of seafarers were stranded at sea, forced to work beyond contract, and denied of shore leave. The crew change crisis, he said, was more than a logistical breakdown as it struck at the heart for a collective effort to promote and protect the human rights of seafarers in times of crisis.
“We took this painful lesson to heart compelling us to act with greater urgency to give visibility to the plight of the unseen and unsung heroes of the global economy,” he added.
Just as the world was starting to recover from the pandemic, conflict in parts of the world reared its ugly head, putting seafarers directly in harm’s way.
Today, Bersamin said, seafarers navigate through high-risk areas, braving missiles, drones, and the constant risk of abduction. “This harsh reality has only strengthened our resolve to put human rights at the core of global discussions on seafarers’ issues,” he said.
To conclude, Bersamin invited the delegates from all over the world to favorably consider endorsing the Manila Declaration, which is a call to action to build a future where no seafarer is exploited, abused or abandoned, and where the global maritime industry stands as a bastion of human rights, inclusion, good governance and sustainability.
