WEBINAR: 24 June – Arbitration as a Means of Effective Remedy for Human Rights Abuses at Sea

Press Release

24 May 2020

Save the Date

[Updated 22/06/2020 – Due to unforeseen administrative circumstances, the webinar has been postponed until 9 July 2020. More updates will follow via the Eventbrite Link]

[Updated 03/06/2020 – Speakers confirmed]

London. UK. Announcement. Arbitration as a Means of Effective Remedy for Human Rights Abuses at Sea Webinar – 24 June 2020 1500 – 1900 CET.

UK charity Human Rights at Sea and global law firm Shearman & Sterling LLP have partnered on a project to facilitate the resolution of disputes concerning human rights at sea using international arbitration. The project’s chief aim is to provide those living, working and transiting at sea with an effective remedy for human rights abuses, while also combating impunity for the perpetrators of such abuses.

The project reached its first significant milestone on 24 March 2020, when Human Rights at Sea and Shearman & Sterling jointly issued a White Paper (available in both English and French) setting out the broad parameters of the arbitration-based system being proposed and identifying the main benefits such a system is expected to generate, as well as potential challenges that its development and implementation might entail.

The Webinar will hone in on certain key issues raised in the White Paper and subject them to focused discussion led by experts from various fields, including the legal, maritime and banking sectors. The principal goals are twofold:

• to facilitate the project’s further development through results-oriented brainstorming on critical legal and practical challenges; and

• to further socialize the project, thereby fostering its acceptance as well as the involvement of necessary stakeholders.

In addition to having the potential to effect real change for human rights abuse victims, the Webinar will also contribute to the study and practice of international arbitration and human rights law, as leading experts will address topics of great academic and practical significance in both fields.

Topics for Discussion

• The concepts introduced in the White Paper and anticipated next steps in bringing them to fruition;

• The use of international arbitration to address human rights issues for those living, working and transiting at sea;

• The extent to which institutional arbitration could be beneficial in the human rights context;

• Lessons learned from the drafting of the Hague Rules on Business and Human Rights Arbitration;

• Consent as a necessary feature of human rights at sea arbitration;

• Ensuring participation of necessary stakeholders – practical challenges and how they might be addressed.

Speakers

Speakers will include academics, legal counsel and other professionals who are experts in their respective fields (international arbitration, shipping law, human rights law, banking and finance).

David Hammond Esq. Barrister (Non-Practising), CEO, Human Rights at Sea

• Alex Marcopoulos, Counsel, Shearman & Sterling LLP

• Elise Edson (Moderator), Senior Associate, Shearman & Sterling LLP

• Prof. Diane Desierto, Professor of Human Rights Law and Global Affairs, Keough School for Global Affairs

• Martin Doe, Senior Legal Counsel, Permanent Court of Arbitration

• Prof. Dr. Anna Petrig, Chair of International Law and Public Law at the University of Basel (Switzerland)

• John Gaffney (Moderator), Senior Counsel, Al Tamimi & Co.

• Prof. Emmanuel Gaillard, Partner and Global Head of Disputes, Shearman & Sterling LLP

• James M. Turner QC, Counsel, Quadrant Chambers, London, UK

• Robin Willing, Senior Sustainability Officer, NIBC Bank N.V.