This document draws the attention of the Legal Committee to the serious problem of involvement of seafarers in criminal activities at sea and of the violation of seafarers' rights to fair treatment in the event of their detention on suspicion of committing crimes related to maritime trade and transportation, and it will be considered during the 107th Session of IMO Legal Committee (LEG) on 16-20 March, 2020.
This document was developed jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Marine Transport Workers' Trade Union of Ukraine, and was widely supported internationally.
Thus, the document development process engaged the authorized entities from Georgia, Malaysia and Philippines, as well as reputable international organizations like International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations (IFSMA), International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO), International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO), International Trade Association for the Ship Management Industry (InterManager), International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and Women's International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA).