Gala Event will Focus on Human Rights of Mariners

UK – WORLDWIDE – Sadly it has been our duty to report various catalogues of abuse of the crews of vessels working on ships well past their use by date or for unscrupulous, uncaring owners. Now Ensign Events, together with Human Rights at Sea, have launched the International Maritime Human Rights Conference and Gala Dinner 2016. Taking place at the Royal College of Surgeons in London on September 14th 2016, the event will focus on explicitly addressing the important issue of maritime human rights and associated welfare issues throughout the maritime environment. CEO of Human Rights at Sea, David Hammond said:

“The opportunity to be part of a globally-focused International Maritime Human Rights Conference, bringing people together from across the maritime environment to listen to subject matter experts and leaders in their fields discuss the current issues facing the international community relating to human rights and the human element is not to be missed. Already, interest and engagement in this conference from across the maritime sector has been significant."

Bringing together industry, civil society and government-level leaders for discussion and debate, the conference will offer an objective view point on issues currently affecting the human element at sea. It will explore topical and emerging matters, and investigate human rights protections and available remedies for abuse. Undertaken by both national and international experts, the event will deliver incisive commentary and concepts to the audience for consideration and debate. Llewellyn Bankes-Hughes, Director of Ensign Events, Managing Director of Petrospot, and Director of Shipping Innovation, said:

“All too often the commercial, political and technical side of the global shipping sector is allowed to overshadow the real, living human side of the industry. This event will readdress the balance and put the seafarers and their welfare at the forefront.”

Addressing commercial, government, academic and civil society positions on the issue of human rights, the speaker line up will discuss and debate the following topics:

• The need for explicit engagement with maritime human rights.
• Seafarer welfare – challenges, responsibilities and the future.
• The fishing community – challenges and development.
• Corporate Social Responsibility and application of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
• Refugees, migrants, immigration and shipping.
• Investigation of human rights abuses at sea.

Following the conference, the evening will begin with a drinks reception in the original Surgeons Library and the fascinating Hunterian Museum. The Gala Dinner will be held in the college’s largest conference room, the Edward Lumley Hall. Money raised during the Conference and Gala Dinner in excess of disbursements required to establish, develop and run the event will be donated to maritime charities. Jean Gowin, Director of Ensign Events and Managing Director of Jeanius Consulting, commented:

“We are excited to be bringing a world-first human rights conference to the maritime sector, especially at a time when shipping faces a myriad of welfare issues and global human rights concerns. The conference will be all encompassing and objective to allow an open and honest exchange of opinions and aims to unite the industry as one voice to create a better environment for the human element at sea.”

Photo: The historic Royal College of Surgeons will be the venue for the event.