Assessing Maritime Security and Human Rights: The Role of the EU and MS

What is it about?

Over the years, the European Union (EU) and its Member States have taken significant steps to enhance maritime security. However, these initiatives are mostly focused on the safety of ships and the protection of the marine environment rather than the pro- tection of human rights at sea. Without belittling the importance of these initiatives, this article argues that it is time the protection of human rights at sea was also incor- porated in the efforts to enhance maritime security. This argument is supported by the analysis of the legal framework which shows that the EU and its Member States as flag, coastal or port States have assumed responsibility to protect human rights at sea under the law of the sea, human rights law and EU law.

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Why is it important?

This article offers a timely analysis of human rights violations at sea and the duties of the EU and its MS to protect persons at sea.