On 29 November 2024, SOAS University of London brought together leading academics, practitioners, and policymakers to address modern slavery in the fishing industry.
The gathering, organised by Dr. Andrea Longo and funded by the SOAS Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) with support by Human Rights at Sea International, hosted two panels that explored the legal complexities surrounding abuse in the fisheries sector as well as initiatives aimed at eradicating these injustices.
The first panel, chaired by Michelle Staggs Kelsall, Senior Lecturer in International Law at SOAS University, discussed the legal aspects of modern slavery on fishing vessels. The discussion centred on legal defintions of forced labour, slavery, and trafficking, and the landmark cases that establish precedents for governance. The panel featured:
- Parosha Chandran, barrister and Professor of Practice in Modern Slavery Law, King’s College London
- Virginia Mantouvalou, Professor of Human Rights and Labour Law, University College London
- Irini Papanicolopulu, Professor of International Law, SOAS, University of London
The second panel, chaired by Andrea Longo, and featuring fisheries stakeholders, dove into the practical issues and potential solutions to address modern slavery at sea. The panellists (listed below) discussed ongoing efforts to reduce abuse against migrant fishers, both at international and UK levels. In particular, David Hammond discussed his ongoing work in Northern Ireland and with the Western Fish Producers’ Organisation conducting reviews of internal processes in sustaining crew safety and welfare. This review process is led by worker voice and includes interviews of migrant fishers about the ways in which they hope to see improvement in their fishery.
The panel comprised:
- Luningning Camoying Valdez, Diplomatic Mission of the Philippines, UN Human Rights Council
- Julia Nakamura, Legal Officer, UN Food and Agriculture Organisation
- David Hammond, Executive Director, Human Rights at Sea International
- Stephanie Hill, Partner at Leigh Day (Human Rights Department, Manchester)
These two discussions highlighted the urgent need for improved international policies, including the ratification of the Geneva Declaration for Human Rights at Sea, and the role of legal reforms, enforcement mechanisms, and internal investigations in protecting migrant fishers.
ENDS.
Source: HRAS International
Images: From Andrea Luongo, Parosha Chandran and Sara Pipernos
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