UN & PH demand action to protect stranded seafarers

UN & PH demand action to protect stranded seafarers
Carmela I. Huelar August 14, 2026 https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/08/14/business/maritime/un-ph-demand-ac...

​As tensions escalate in critical maritime transit zones, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has issued an urgent international call to action to protect merchant seafarers trapped in rising geopolitical conflicts, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz.

​The High Commissioner's statement emphasized that civilian vessels and their crews are strictly protected under International Humanitarian Law and must never be targeted or used as leverage in armed conflicts. The UN Rights Chief warned of severe humanitarian violations at sea, highlighting reports of stranded crews facing life-threatening conditions, a lack of essential supplies, and abandonment in active danger zones.

​In response to the UN Human Rights Office's declaration, the Philippine government firmly backed the UN’s stance, pointing to the immense human and economic stakes involved for the Southeast Asian nation.

​The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) underscored that as the world’s leading supplier of maritime personnel—with Filipino seafarers constituting over 20% of the global seafaring workforce—any threat to major international shipping lanes directly jeopardizes thousands of Filipino lives.

"The welfare of our seafarers cannot be sidelined," said MARINA Administrator Sonia B. Malaluan. "As one of the largest suppliers of seafarers in the world, the Philippines has immense stakes in every threat to major global shipping routes."

​Administrator Malaluan affirmed that MARINA is actively coordinating with international maritime bodies to fortify protection mechanisms, streamline real-time communications, and secure swift emergency repatriation for affected crews.

The Philippine diplomatic mission in Geneva reinforced the stance during high-level international proceedings, including follow-ups to the 36th Extraordinary Session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council.

​Carlos D. Sorreta, Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, emphasized that securing safe passage and immediate repatriation is both a legal human rights duty and a moral obligation.

"The protection and safe repatriation of stranded seafarers is both a human rights obligation and a humanitarian imperative," Sorreta stated.

The Philippines reiterated the global significance of the Manila Declaration on Seafarers' Human Rights, Safety, and Well-being—a landmark international framework championing the dignity, security, and fundamental rights of maritime workers worldwide. Amid rising risks in volatile trade corridors, Manila’s message remains unequivocal: no commercial shipping route is worth the cost of a seafarer's life.