Industrial activities in the world’s oceans (commonly referred to as the ‘blue economy’) can have significant societal and environmental benefits. But if not managed responsibly, they can also have adverse impacts - on local communities, on workers in direct operations and in value chains, and on at-risk groups. The blue economy encompasses multiple industry sectors and human rights permeate them all in various ways. IHRB has been promoting respect for human rights across a range of ocean activities:
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In 2022, IHRB and the Rafto Foundation for Human Rights created the Ocean and Human Rights Platform (Ocean Platform) as a collaborative initiative to raise awareness in order to prevent and address adverse human rights impacts across the blue economy.
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IHRB has been working to improve human rights across the Ship Lifecycle - from shipyard to scrapyard. Now sitting under the auspices of the Ocean Platform, this work currently focuses on seafarers’ rights and welfare, and on the human rights impacts of ports infrastructure and development, linking to IHRB’s Built Environment Programme.
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In line with IHRB's Just Transitions programme, IHRB is working with stakeholders on the human rights impacts of offshore and coastal renewable energy projects.
