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Prof. Steven Haines
Professor of Public International Law, University of Greenwich
The Geneva Declaration on Human Rights at Sea
About the Project
The Geneva Declaration on Human Rights at Sea confirms that human rights apply at sea as they do on land.
Conceived as a response to the ongoing systematic abuse of human rights at sea, the Declaration brings together existing international law into one document.
It gives practical guidance to states on how to ensure that human rights abuses at sea are detected, remedied, and ultimately ended. We are working with individual countries and the UN to promote the adoption of the Declaration.
The Declaration is open for public consultation until 1st September 2022, so please do let us know what you think.
Four fundamental principles
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Human rights are universal; they apply at sea, as they do on land.
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All persons at sea, without any distinction, are entitled to their human rights.
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There are no maritime specific reasons for denying human rights at sea.
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All human rights established under both treaty and customary international law must be respected at sea.
"As a city very connected to human rights, Geneva is proud to support the Geneva Declaration on Human Rights at Sea. This international declaration is important for the protection of people in international waters. I am happy to witness the realisation of a concept born in Geneva three years ago and to have been the first to receive this document"
Mayor of Geneva Frédérique Perler, 1 March 2022
Download the Geneva Declaration
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Open Consultation
The Geneva Declaration is now open for public consultation until 1st September 2022. We'd love to hear from you what you think about the Declaration and its aims. Please do get in touch with us here.
After the consultation period has ended, we will collate all the feedback and incorporate any necessary amendments.
The Drafting Team
Prof. Irini Papanicolopulu
Associate Professor of International Law, University of Milano-Bicocca
Dr, Sofia Galani
Assistant Professor Public International Law, Panteion University
Prof. Dr. iur. Anna Petrig
Chair of International and Public Law, University of Basel
Dr. Elizabeth Mavropoulou
Head of Research
David Hammond
Chief Executive Officer
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