16 February 2024. In ‘Women’s Rights in the Blue Economy’, Dr Bonny Ling joins the discussion moderated by Prof. Leila Choukroune, alongside maritime specialist guests, Sophie Quinton and Pascaline Odoubourou.
The podcast ‘Our Rights in Action’ was launched by Leila Choukroune, Professor in International Law and Director of the University of Portsmouth’s Democratic Citizenship theme, to shed light on human stories and how the law is working to improve lives.
This episode highlights the opportunities and risks faced by women working at sea, the legislations that currently exist to protect seafarers, and how women’s rights can be better integrated in what is still a very male-dominated maritime industry.
With 90 percent of international trade carried by sea, commercial transport shipping represents a huge sector of the global economy. However, only 1.2% of seafarers happen to be women, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Why is there such a large gender disparity in maritime employment?
Sophie Quinton, who is a researcher for the University of Portsmouth’s Centre for Blue Governance specialised in maritime security, explains two main driving factors:
Firstly, there is the cultural dimension which has traditionally viewed the sea as a male-dominated territory; and secondly – the maritime working environment in which women can feel particularly vulnerable and isolated.
The challenge is rooted in what is “effectively a floating workplace,” many miles away from land where existing laws are enforced.
Making sure that normative standards of labour and human rights in the workplace are also included at sea, was a point further raised by Dr Bonny Ling.
“A lot of what has been done to regulate a normal workplace needs to specifically reference also, that it means ‘a workplace at sea.’ So that, we are not inadvertently setting up vacuums and gaps, where these normative standards such as codes of conducts, international human rights treaties, are not [expected to] apply.
To date the sea has been a bit of a vacuum, because of the distance factor. Once a boat sails from port, you don’t see them anymore, which creates this ‘out of sight, out of mind’ situation.” – Dr Bonny Ling
Another major challenge faced by migrant female seafarers in particular is the issue of recruitment fees. As Dr Ling explained, workers are less likely to report labour abuses as they are saddled by the pressure of debt to their employer.
Further taking into consideration their family’s financial dependence on them, they face the risk of exploitation, including physical and mental abuse, forced labour and other major violations.
What can be done to improve the situation facing women at sea and thus facilitate a more equal and diverse workforce in the maritime sector?
Dr Ling’s recommendation was to raise more awareness of the potential risks involved, as well as being aware of the tools and legal instruments which are already available to identify and mitigate such risks.
While the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (1982) and other international legal instruments address issues of ocean governance and labour rights at sea, more needs to be done to ensure that these rules are effectively implemented.
The rise in technological development is contributing to an increase in transparency: tracking a ship’s whereabouts and working conditions across international borders has become a lot easier through electronic devices and apps.
While more still needs to be done, we are hopeful that through concerted efforts between statutory law, the private sector and civil society organisation, more women who are currently already working in the sector, or who may be dreaming of a blue career, are able to do this safely.
Listen to the full episode here.
