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African experts meet to discuss operationalisation of a human rights-based approach to sustainable fisheries

 

Representatives from key regional stakeholders in the African region met in Nairobi, Kenya on 31 July to 1 August 2019, to discuss issues related to human rights and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.

 

The expert meeting organized by the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) in collaboration with the FAO, the Network of African National Human Rights Institutions (NANHRI) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), focused on discussing the main human rights challenges, gaps, initiatives, needs and opportunities for the sectors and proposed actions for the African region.

 

The fisheries and aquaculture sectors have enormous potential to underpin poverty eradication, food security, employment and economic growth and can offer a path to sustainable development. However, a lack of transparency and weak monitoring, control, surveillance and enforcement in the sector, particularly in relation to labour and human rights standards, undermine the positive economic and social contributions of fisheries.

 

Participating in the meeting Elsa Patria, Stop Illegal Fishing Chairperson, stated, “The challenges of tackling human rights abuses in the marine fisheries sector have been well documented in recent years. This forum has provided a valuable space to bring key players together, to share experiences and find common solutions. It is vital that fisheries officers are trained and empowered to identify and intervene when crew on fishing vessels are subject to poor living and working conditions.”

 

For more information on the African work of the Sustainable Oceans project of the DIHR visit the website Promoting human rights in fisheries and aquaculture in Africa.