Published on February 28 2023, this blog discusses national and international human rights actors and how they might be used as well as their mandates to promoting and protecting the rights of small-scale fishers, fish workers and their communities. The blog draws from a dialogue series composed of two webinars exploring these themes by the One Ocean Hub as part of its partnerships with the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture between the 1-2 February 2023.
In the first webinar, the NHRI representatives from South Africa, Chile, and the Philippines discussed how their mandates address human rights abuses affecting small-scale fishers and indigenous peoples. Jonas Ben Sibanyoni, South African Commissioner, emphasized the role of the Human Rights Commission of South Africa in litigating for small-scale fishers’ rights and encouraged them to seek help from NHRI offices in coastal regions. Harumi Fuentes Furuya of OHCHR stressed the interdependence of fishers’ rights and the need for states to implement international standards. Jamshid Gaziyev of OHCHR highlighted a ‘triple A approach’—awareness, action, and alliance—to protect fishers’ rights. One Ocean Hub researchers identified gaps in policy interpretation, environmental justice issues, and the need for better protection of fishers’ rights in South Africa. Kira Ewin noted that weak policy enforcement leads to exploitation and violence against fishers, while Wilmien Wicomb stressed the need for educating law enforcement on resolving conflicts with fishers.
In the second webinar focused on protecting the human rights of small-scale fishers through international mechanisms. Experts like Michael Windfuhr and Dorothy Estrada-Tanck discussed current recommendations to states on supporting fishers’ rights. Michael Fakhri emphasized the role of small-scale fishers in environmental stewardship and mentioned his upcoming report on the right to food in this context. Ana Suarez Dussan highlighted the importance of collaboration, citing a joint effort by the FAO, OHCHR, and One Ocean Hub. Balortey Gormey addressed issues like gender segregation and child trafficking among fishers in Ghana, and the Hub’s work to improve women’s inclusion in fisheries. Elaine Webster stressed the importance of integrating human rights duties with other international commitments to support small-scale fishers effectively.