Karpachova: Protection of rights of Ukrainian sailors should be discussed in parliament

Kyiv, April 19 (Interfax-Ukraine) –The Ukrainian parliament's human rights commissioner, Nina Karpachova, has said she hopes that her report on the state of the observance and protection of rights of Ukrainian sailors will be considered at a parliament meeting. "The report has been published and posted on the Internet, and it has been considered by two parliamentary committees. I hope that the [Verkhovna] Rada will put the report on the agenda," she said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.

In her opinion, Ukraine should restore the country's national fleet so that Ukrainian sailors can work under the flag of their country.

Karpachova also said that Ukraine should also draw up a national comprehensive program for the development of the marine industry, which will include measures to revive the shipbuilding industry, improve the activity of passenger and cargo ports, create state-owned shipping companies and train marine personnel. This program should also include a set of organizational and technical measures to ensure the safety of navigation and rescue operations at sea, as well as the comprehensive protection of the merchant fleet and the crew of ships against attacks by pirates.

She also said that Ukraine should ratify the 2006 Maritime Labor Convention of the International Labor Organization, which will help bring the protection of economic and social rights of Ukrainian sailors into line with international standards.

Karpachova also said that Ukraine should create an interagency coordinating body to resolve the problems of the domestic fleet and the crews of vessels with Ukrainian sailors sailing under foreign flags.