'Who cares about human rights beyond the horizon?'

'Who cares about human rights beyond the horizon?'

David Hammond Chief Executive Human Rights at Sea

This century saw a sharp rise in piracy in the Indian Ocean leading to the capture for ransom of passing cargo ships. This revealed a shocking truth well-established mechanisms for valuing and negotiating the release of a ship’s hull and its cargo but none for securing the safety of its crew destined to remain hostage in appalling conditions sometimes leading to their death.

Human Rights at Sea set out to address this weakness drawing international attention to the plight of seafarers worldwide some held prisoner by their employers their life in constant danger. David Hammond will review the organisation’s progress towards international policy change its work in Ukraine and will introduce the new Geneva Declaration on Human Rights at Sea which sets out to extend human rights engagement under existing international law. Also he will preview plans for a new victim-led arbitration process.

David Hammond served as an officer in the Royal Marines in many of the world’s oceans. He founded Human Rights at Sea in 2014 having witnessed the scale of human rights abuses that take place at sea. Having qualified as a barrister he also teaches on international human rights and international humanitarian law worldwide.

Human Rights at Sea is a UK-registered charitable NGO established in 2014. In 2022 it gained special consultative status with the UN’s Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC). Also it holds Observer status for the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

The Westminster United Nations Association is linked with but independent of the United Nations Association of the UK. We organise events throughout the year and welcome all to receive our messages and news.

We thank Lord Teverson for hosting this meeting.

Event Venue

Room1, House of Lords, , Parliament Square, London, United Kingdom