Safety of human rights at sea

Abstract

The question of whether human rights exist beyond the 24 nautical miles of a State’s jurisdiction has become a recent debate in international law. The view of many international lawyers and legal academics is that the 1982 United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is one of the most comprehensive international conventions which addresses almost all necessary issues concerning the ocean. This is why the conventio has been referred to as the 'constitution of oceans.' UNCLOS made no direct mention of human rights at sea. However, there are certain of its provisions that may be interpreted as protecting human rights. This also applies to Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and Search and Rescue (SAR) Conventions. This research will examine the necessary provisions that cater for the safety of human rights at sea and will analyze some of the decisions of international Courts and Tribunals relating to human rights and the Law of the Sea.