Manila Declaration charts new course for seafarers’ rights amid rising global risks

Manila Declaration charts new course for seafarers’ rights amid rising global risks
Liz Lagniton September 4, 2025 https://maritimefairtrade.org/manila-declaration-charts-new-course-for-s...

In a landmark move poised to shift the global maritime labor landscape, the Philippines on September 2 formally launched the Manila Declaration on Seafarers’ Human Rights, Safety and Well-Being, a non-binding but powerful global framework designed to protect the dignity, rights, and safety of the world’s seafarers.

The Declaration was unveiled at the conclusion of the International Conference on Seafarers’ Human Rights, Safety and Well-Being, a two-day summit hosted at the Diamond Hotel in Manila. The forum convened with over 200 delegates from at least 30 countries, representing governments, labor unions, shipowners, and international organizations.

The theme “No One Left Adrift: Seafarers at the Cross Currents of Commerce, Conflict, and Change” set the tone for a gathering that not only elevated long-standing grievances of maritime workers but laid out a comprehensive response to the crises and transitions shaping the future of work at sea.

The Manila Declaration, while non-binding, has been lauded as a critical moral and political blueprint aimed at raising global standards for maritime labor amid rising geopolitical tensions, environmental challenges, and rapid technological change.

Carlos Sorreta, permanent representative of the Philippines to the United Nations in Geneva, formally presented the Declaration at the conference’s closing plenary.

“The Manila Declaration is forward looking. It anticipates the reality of an evolving maritime landscape. It prepares all of us to meet the demands of a new era with fairness, efficiency and sustainability,” said Sorreta.

The Declaration outlines eight core commitments:

Upholding human rights of seafarers at all times
Full implementation of the maritime labor convention (MLC)
Ensuring seafarer safety during crises such as conflicts and pandemics
Respecting the right of seafarers to refuse to sail in high-risk areas without reprisal
Encouraging corporate human rights due diligence
Promoting gender equity and the empowerment of women in maritime
Ensuring a just transition amid decarbonization and digitalization
Enhancing international cooperation on maritime education and training

The commitments respond to growing concerns over the treatment of seafarers caught in emergencies, ranging from war zones like the Red Sea to health crises such as COVID-19, where thousands were stranded aboard vessels due to border closures.

“We need a broader human rights lens—one that inspires states to act not just through maritime law, but through shared moral responsibility,” said Sorreta.

Seafarer’s voice

Beyond the policy and diplomatic language, the Manila Declaration has struck a deeply personal chord for those at sea.

In a press conference held after the summit, Captain Jasmin Labarda, representing the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines, recounted her own traumatic experiences at sea, marked by abuse and neglect.

“This is a government that works for the people and thinks about its best,” she said, praising the state-led initiative.

For Second Officer Maribel Singian, the Declaration marks long-overdue recognition: “It’s a celebration. Finally, seafarers are being seen for their hardship and their work.”

The Philippines, home to nearly 30 percent of the world’s 1.9 million seafarers, is often referred to as the backbone of the global shipping industry. Filipino seafarers are renowned for their professionalism and resilience, yet remain vulnerable to poor working conditions, abandonment, and legal precarity, particularly during global emergencies.

The Philippines has long positioned itself as a vocal advocate for seafarers’ rights, leveraging its stature as the top provider of sea-based labor.

In 2024, it sponsored and championed UN Human Rights Council Resolution 56/18, the first-ever international resolution recognizing seafarers as rights-holders and not just workers.

Building on that momentum, the Manila Declaration is a call for wider global solidarity.

“We’re not waiting for or counting these things. We’re going to do it, no matter how few or how many these cases are,” Sorreta emphasized during the launch.

Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)’s administrator Sonia B Malaluan, who delivered the conference synthesis, framed the two-day event as a watershed moment.

Malaluan emphasized that the Manila Declaration now serves as a “guiding compass” for collective global action, underscoring that seafarers must be recognized not merely as workers, but as rights-holders whose dignity, safety, and well-being should be central to policymaking, industry practices, and international cooperation.

Support from global maritime community

As of September 2, the Declaration had drawn formal endorsements from 10 countries: Bangladesh, Germany, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

These nations represent diverse sectors in global shipping, from shipbuilding and labor to maritime finance and Arctic navigation.

The Declaration also gained institutional backing from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Labor Organization (ILO), and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

Further, Human Rights at Sea, a UK based nonprofit dedicated to ending abuses at sea, pledged to bolster the Declaration.

“We now look closely to the settlement, state use of, and engagement with the final text of the Manila Declaration. This includes the necessary next step plans by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines to further normalize the human rights at sea narrative in both law and policy as international precedent,” the organization commented on its website.

Urgent crises and lingering injustices

The push for reform is not merely theoretical. The reality on the water is dire for many seafarers.

Just last year, the Philippine government repatriated dozens of Filipino seafarers affected by Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea. Many were trapped aboard vessels for weeks without pay or adequate supplies.

The COVID-19 pandemic similarly exposed the fragility of seafarers’ legal and physical protections, with hundreds of thousands stranded offshore for months — unable to disembark, denied medical care, and forgotten in global policy debates.

These crises have made it clear: rights at sea cannot remain abstract principles.

“Seafarers are the lifeblood of global trade. Upholding their human rights, safety, and well-being is not an option, but an obligation we all share,” said Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma Theresa P Lazaro.

“This conference is an important platform towards deepening global discourse on this issue and driving momentum for common action,” Lazaro added.
Conference highlights

The event was co-organized by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Migrant Workers, MARINA, and the Department of Labor and Employment.

Over two days, delegates engaged in deep discussions across several thematic panels that addressed the most pressing challenges facing seafarers today.

The first plenary, “Upholding Human Rights at Sea”, was moderated by Ambassador Sorreta. It featured panelists from the Philippines, Malaysia, the United Nations, the ILO, and the International Chamber of Shipping.

The discussion tackled critical issues such as wage theft, abandonment, harassment, and the urgent need for stronger enforcement of the MLC, which sets minimum working and living standards for all seafarers.

The second panel, “Protecting Seafarers in Crisis Situations”, was led by DFA’s Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa T Almojuela. This session focused on the vulnerabilities of seafarers during emergencies, including pandemics, armed conflicts, and geopolitical instability.

Speakers from Oman, Mexico, the World Maritime University and The Mission to Seafarers emphasized the need for improved preparedness protocols and legal protections to safeguard seafarers when crises strike.

Day two opened with the panel, “Promoting gender equality and inclusivity in the maritime industry”, highlighted the persistent underrepresentation of women in seafaring roles and the barriers they continue to face.

In a video message, Elpi Petraki, president of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association, emphasized the importance of promoting maritime careers early, particularly in schools, to inspire the next generation of seafarers.

The final panel, “Seafarers and the just transition in the maritime industry”, which centered on equity, sustainability, and digital transformation in the maritime industry.

The discussions emphasized the importance of preparing seafarers for the sector’s shift toward green shipping and automation. Delegates called for comprehensive upskilling and reskilling programs to ensure seafarers are not left behind as the industry evolves.

In his closing remarks, Ambassador Teodoro Locsin Jr, permanent representative of the Philippines to the IMO, delivered a stirring message, reminding participants that good intentions must be matched with action.

Quoting seafarer-turned-novelist Joseph Conrad, Locsin said: “The sea has never been friendly to man. At most it has been the accomplice of human restlessness.”

He challenged the global maritime community: “Let us be the guardians of those whose dignified service is the brave seas and sacrifice on our behalf.”

Locsin added that the conference must move “from the walls of conference rooms to the decks of ships at sea.”

What’s next for the Manila Declaration?

The Philippine government now intends to build on the Declaration by pushing for additional resolutions within the IMO and the ILO.

These efforts will build upon UN Human Rights Council Resolution 56/18, which the Philippines championed and which was adopted by consensus in July 2024. That resolution formally recognized seafarers as rights-holders and called for stronger international cooperation to protect them.

With the momentum generated by the conference, the Manila Declaration is expected to serve as the foundation for future international policy debates, industry reforms, and bilateral agreements focused on labor protection, maritime education, and digital innovation in shipping.

“Human rights (are) at the heart of policy and action,” Sorreta stated during the final plenary, reiterating the Philippines’ commitment to integrating seafarers’ rights into the broader global human rights framework.

Delegations were encouraged to formally endorse the Declaration through written commitments, official notes, or public statements, and the organizers confirmed that the endorsement process would remain open beyond the conference to ensure ongoing momentum.

The Manila Declaration also reflects a broader trend: the growing leadership of Global South countries in setting international labor standards. As a country with one of the largest seafaring populations in the world, the Philippines is uniquely positioned to act as both advocate and example.

As the international community sets sail with the Manila Declaration as its moral compass, speakers repeatedly emphasized that the work is only beginning.

Locsin’s words encapsulated a call for tangible change — not just in diplomatic forums, but in the lived realities of the men and women working on ships across the world’s oceans.

Malaluan emphasized this in her synthesis, noting that the Declaration now stands as a “guiding compass” for global policy and industry practices.

The MARINA administrator also stressed that the conference demonstrated strong international cooperation and a shared commitment to building a just and inclusive maritime industry.

She noted that the discussions went beyond existing conventions and policies, resulting in a unified call to action to uphold and protect the full spectrum of seafarers’ rights around the world.

Moreover, the Philippines is expected to work closely with international bodies like the IMO, ILO, and ITF to convert the Declaration’s ideals into regulatory frameworks, training modules, funding mechanisms, and enforcement protocols.

Delegates also expressed the hope that the Declaration would help mainstream human rights at sea into national legislation and foreign policy.