Members of the COPE° Working Group on Maritime Safety and Security have developed a white paper, titled: Protecting the Human Rights of Seafarers Facing Adverse Conditions and Criminalization in the Maritime Industry.

This paper addresses the growing issue of unjust detention and criminalization of seafarers around the world. It outlines how existing international frameworks fall short in protecting seafarers’ rights and proposes the development of a global treaty to ensure due process, legal safeguards, and basic human dignity for mariners.


The paper is intended to support dialogue among international organizations, governments, industry, and civil society to help advance fair and effective protections for those working at sea.