18 signatories, including governments and associations, urged the IMO to take measures and end the growing problem of sexual harassment and bullying at sea.
In a paper sent to the IMO, the signatories said that recent incidents emphasised the need for action.
Recent events and news on sexual harassment and assault have highlighted the need for a concerted effort to prevent these incidents and to reaffirm the need for a culture of inclusion
The document will now be discussed during IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee in April, and explained how harassment and bullying affects the wellbeing of seafarers, as well as future recruitment.
Repeated issues of sexual assault and sexual harassment have adverse effects on seafarers’ mental health, safety and well-being, with subsequent negative effects on recruitment and attrition rates of seafarers
Taking the above into considerations, the paper proposes mandating the joint ILO/IMO Tripartite Working Group to identify and address seafarers’ issues and the human element (JTWG) to consider, with a view to addressing, sexual assault and harassment in the maritime sector.
The purpose of this work would be to discuss the issue and provide recommendations for future steps to address sexual assault and harassment, and provide recommendations for changing the maritime culture.
