Judges’ Special Award Rev’d Ken Peters, Mission to Seafarers
The Revd Canon Ken Peters has worked for over 35 years for global maritime charity The Mission to Seafarers and is regarded as one of the world’s leading international seafarers’ welfare advocates. He influences policy and makes representations on behalf of seafarers and their families at the highest level through the United Nations at the International Maritime Organization and the International Labour Organization, the International Christian Maritime Association and with key global shipping, trade and professional associations. All over the world there are Mission ‘Flying Angel’ Seafarers’ Centres providing help and support to seafarers in need and where seafarers of all faiths or none can contact their families and loved ones.
The Mission provides transport services from ship to shore and offers pastoral care on a range of issues including employment disputes, health problems and personal distress, handling over 3,000 cases last year. Being accredited by the ILO, Ken is the chief adviser to a network over 50 full-time Mission chaplains worldwide dealing with justice and welfare issues that fall under the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, as well as provisions of other international instruments. He leads the training of chaplains to ensure professional standards for the Mission. He has developed strong relationships with stakeholders in the maritime industry as well as flag states and port state control authorities. Ken represents the Anglican Communion at the Office of the United Nations’ High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva, dealing with the rising migrant death toll at sea which has recently developed into a full-blown humanitarian crisis for seafarers and migrants alike. He is also a member of the Anglican Communion’s ‘Rome Group,’ which is tasked with developing policy in the fight against human trafficking and slavery across the seas.