Philippines Shares Human Rights Actions for Protection of Filipino Seafarers at Third United Nations Oceans Conference

DFA-Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office Assistant Secretary Marshall Louis M. Alferez delivering remarks on behalf of the Philippines on the UNOC3 side event entitled “SDG 14 and the Protection of Human Rights of People at Sea”

NICE 13 June 2025 – The Philippines co-sponsored a side event entitled “SDG 14 and the Protection of Human Rights of People at Sea” held at the sidelines of the Third United Nations Oceans Conference (UNOC3) on 11 June 2025, at the University of Côte d’Azur, in Nice, France.

Assistant Secretary Marshall Louis M. Alferez of the Department of Foreign Affairs – Maritime and Ocean Affairs substituted Undersecretary Eduardo Jose A. De Vega as of one of the Resource Speakers for the event. He delivered remarks, praising the Philippines as a champion of upholding human rights at sea. He further acknowledged the challenges rising from the fragmentation of legal frameworks for the protection of human rights at sea, which has led to efforts by certain countries to impose their domestic laws in the maritime zones of others, to the detriment of Filipinos who have a lawful right to those maritime zones in accordance with international law.

The Assistant Secretary additionally outlined the following concrete actions taken by the Philippines to protect Filipino seafarers:

1. The Philippines leading in the crafting of the UN Human Rights Council resolution, “Promoting and Protecting the Enjoyment of Human Rights of Seafarers” that was adopted by consensus at the 56th UN HRC Session;

2. The Philippines co-sponsoring the “Working and Living Conditions at Sea: Challenges and Risks to Seafarers’ Human Rights and Safety” side event with the International Labour Organization (ILO) at the 56th UN HRC Session;

3. The Philippines’ enactment of Republic Act No. 12021, also known as the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers;

4. The successful facilitation of the return of 17 Filipino seafarers of the MV Galaxy Leader held captive by Houthi rebels in Yemen for 428 days; and

5. The expansion of Philippine partnership with like-minded countries having large numbers of overseas fisherfolk through bilateral, regional, and multilateral engagements.

Hosted by Blue Rights and co-sponsored by Switzerland and Indonesia, the side event aimed to highlight the nexus between the economic, environment, and social dimensions of sustainable development and the current challenges facing people at sea. This will include a discussion that seeks to identify priority areas for action by states and other stakeholders that can be undertaken in the short, medium, and long term.

The side event consisted of remarks from Ambassador Elizabeth Taylor of Colombia, Vice Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno of Indonesia, and academics, Professor Anna Petrig from the University of Basel and Mr. Jeremia Humolong Prasetya of the Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative. END