The Philippine-led Manila Declaration on Seafarers’ Human Rights, Safety, and Well-being has secured more than 40 endorsements from governments, international organizations, maritime industry leaders, and stakeholders, marking a significant step in global efforts to protect seafarers.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the endorsements were received on May 18, 2026, coinciding with the International Day for Women in Maritime. Supporting countries include major maritime and labor-supplying nations such as Australia, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Norway, the Netherlands, Panama, and the United Kingdom.
The growing support reflects increasing momentum behind efforts to promote a safer, fairer, and more sustainable maritime industry, while also highlighting the need for greater inclusion, gender equality, and safe working environments for women in the sector.
During the Seafarers’ Conference, Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro urged participants to support the declaration, emphasizing the importance of implementing existing international standards that safeguard seafarers’ rights and welfare.
Launched in Manila on Sept. 2, 2025, the declaration builds on the Philippines’ longstanding advocacy for maritime workers and follows the unanimous adoption of a Philippine-led United Nations Human Rights Council resolution on seafarers’ rights in July 2025.
The declaration calls for stronger international cooperation to address risks faced by seafarers, including armed conflict, piracy, labor exploitation, abandonment, unsafe working conditions, and disruptions caused by geopolitical tensions.
As one of the world’s largest suppliers of maritime labor, providing an estimated 25 to 30 percent of the global seafaring workforce, the Philippines continues to champion the rights, safety, and well-being of seafarers through both international advocacy and domestic initiatives, the DFA said.