Within the framework of United Nations #WorldOceansDay, Shearman & Sterling, together with pro bono client Human Rights at Sea (HRAS), hosted a webinar focused on human rights issues arising in fisheries.

Titled “Confronting the Human Rights Crisis in Fisheries: How Arbitration Can Improve Fishers’ Access to Justice,” this event was a significant milestone in our firm’s partnership with HRAS on the Human Rights at Sea Arbitration Initiative, an innovative, arbitration-based solution to human rights issues occurring at sea. The webinar, held on the occasion of World Oceans Day, marked the first steps in tailoring this system to meet the practical needs of its expected users – in this case, those in the fishing industry.

Together with our panelists, we explored types of abuses that take place, current available complaint systems and the main barriers in seeking remedy and collecting evidence. We also discussed how substantive human rights law could apply to businesses, the legal basis on which businesses have responsibility in respect to modern slavery and the soft law trends which might create the conditions for states and businesses to participate in a solution. We further considered corporate incentives to promote responsible supply chains and multi-stakeholder collaboration as a key step forward.

Watch the replay of “Confronting the Human Rights Crisis in Fisheries: How Arbitration Can Improve Fishers’ Access to Justice.”