A recent news article published in the Safety4Sea states that Governments and associations urge IMO to end sexual harassment and bullying at sea.
IMO has to take measures
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
IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee
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.
Discussion of issues
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.
A 2016 study by the United States Department of Transportation noted that sexual offences and sexual harassment at sea can have negative effects on mariners including depression, poor performance, unhealthy coping mechanisms and isolation.
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Source: Safety4Sea
