Human rights, for me, is a topic which has always been personal. As someone who's gay, I'm all too familiar with what life is like without the same human rights protections as others.
I grew up in the shadow of the AIDS crisis and during the impact of section 28 - a UK law banning the promotion of homosexuality.
When I was born, homosexuality had been decriminalised for less than 20 years, and it was still officially classified as a mental disorder. When I first met my husband, gay marriage wasn't legal.
As well as this lack of protection, I also faced the same discrimination, harassment, and violence that all too many LGBTQ+ people face.
This abuse of my human rights left me with a burning desire to see a more just world, not just for LGBTQ+ people, but for everyone. I remember Martin Luther King's quote, 'injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere' and I firmly believe that it's true.
I joined HRAS for two reasons. Firstly because of my passion for human rights, and secondly, HRAS is an organisation that addresses a significantly underserved population.
Despite there being 30 million people at sea, their human rights are not universally protected and upheld. Slavery at sea, child labour, sexual violence, and discrimination all take place with alarming regularity at sea, which itself is shocking.
But more than this, the lack of justice for victims when abuses do occur is unbelievable.
The complex legal situation of life at sea means that the sea is an area where abusers of human rights are able to act with virtual impunity.
They can traffic people into slavery and keep them at sea with no pay for months on end. They can 'employ' children as fishers, one of the most dangerous occupations that exist. They can attack people on cruise ships and super yachts and not worry about the repercussions.
HRAS won't rest until this tide turns and people are able to enjoy the same human rights protections that they do on land. And I'm proud to say neither will I.
Written by Martyn Illingworth - Head of Operations, Human Rights at Sea
Contact: If you have any questions, please write to us at enquiries@humanrightsatsea.org
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