The UNHCR, IMO, and ICS have launched a revised Rescue Guide to assist partners in their humanitarian and legal responsibilities to rescue refugees and migrants at sea. This updated edition, titled Rescue at Sea: A Guide to Principles and Practice in the Context of Refugee and Migrant Movements, comes amid ongoing tragic shipwrecks, emphasizing the need for collective action to prevent further loss of life.
As the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention approaches, the guide underscores the importance of safeguarding individuals in distress and ensuring safe disembarkation in accordance with international law. The partners stress that the seas must be treated as humanitarian spaces, where the duty to rescue is upheld without discrimination.
Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the IMO, highlighted the critical role of coast guards and merchant vessels in saving lives, urging that established legal obligations must translate into actionable measures at sea. Elizabeth Tan from UNHCR emphasized that the ongoing tragedies are preventable, and the revised guide serves as a vital resource for ensuring the moral and legal duty to rescue those in distress.
The updated guide offers detailed legal standards and procedures for prompt rescue and safe disembarkation, available in six languages. It aims to support shipmasters, authorities, and all involved in maritime rescue operations, reinforcing the shared responsibility to deliver timely assistance and uphold international law.
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