On November 21, 2024, the World Fisheries Day, an event entitled “The Protection and Wellbeing of Fishers against Human Trafficking”, was held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The event was organized by the Sovereign Order of Malta’s Ambassador Michel Veuthey in collaboration with International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN), Stella Maris, and PRAEVENI GLOBAL, and co-sponsored by the ILO, and by the Permanent Missions of the Holy See, Kenya, the Philippines, and the UK.
The event aimed to highlight the exploitation of fishers and propose measures to integrate their rights into global policies on modern slavery, human trafficking, and labor. With 58.5 million people directly employed in fisheries and an estimated 600 million dependent on the sector, participants emphasized that workers’ rights are severely neglected. Migrant workers are at increased risk of abuse, often exacerbated by the lack of enforcement of international labor standards. Despite existing legal instruments and mechanisms, systemic gaps leave too many workers vulnerable.
The event was introduced by H.E. Michel Veuthey, Ambassador to monitor and combat trafficking in persons. Keynote speakers included Dr. Miguel Bernal (FAO), who stressed regional strategies for sustainable fisheries and workers’ rights, and Christine Bader (ILO), who addressed gaps in labor law enforcement. Other presentations were made by Kevin Hyland OBE, former UK Anti-Slavery Commissioner; Dr. Jessica Sparks (Tufts University), who highlighted the link between environmental protection and labor exploitation; Chris Williams (ITF), on union-led anti-trafficking efforts; and Fr. Marcio Toniazzo (SIMN), who discussed the role of faith-based networks in advocacy (see attached concept note).
The discussions resulted in five actionable recommendations: 1. enforce international and national labor laws,
2. build labor protections into sustainability certifications, 3. expand legal and social support for trafficked fishers,
4. improve cross-border cooperation to combat illegal fishing linked to human trafficking, and
5. promote ethical recruitment practices for migrant workers.
Moderated by Fr. Bruno Ciceri of Stella Maris, the event concluded with an interactive debate, that urged stakeholders to prioritize systemic reforms that protect fishers’ livelihoods. Participants emphasized the need for governments, international organizations, and civil society to work together to address this issue comprehensively.
The event’s proposals will inform policy development in frameworks such as the G20, G7, and EU Due Diligence Directive. By raising awareness and promoting practical strategies, the event marked a significant step towards addressing exploitation in the fisheries sector and ensuring sustainable livelihoods for millions of people worldwide.
The recorded event, with subtitles and transcripts in seven languages, is available online. Additional documents on this topic are available online at https://bit.ly/HT-FISHERIES-HANDOUTS
