Strengthening response to harassment at sea

IMO opens applications for Safe Horizons project

IMO Member States have until the 4 May to apply to become one of up to six countries to participate in a new initiative aimed at eradicating violence and harassment at sea.

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) issued a circular earlier this month calling on eligible Member States to apply for participation in Safe Horizons, a new EU-funded initiative.

Violence and harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault, remain entrenched problems in the shipping industry, threatening the safety, dignity and well-being of seafarers worldwide. Safe Horizons, funded by the European Union under the NDICI-Global Europe instrument, is the IMO's direct response to these challenges.

The project is being implemented by IMO’s Technical Cooperation and Implementation Division (TCID) and follows outcomes from the second meeting of the Joint ILO/IMO Tripartite Working Group to Identify and Address Seafarers’ Issues and the Human Element (JTWG), as well as decisions taken at MSC 108 and MSC 110.

Selected Member States will receive tailored technical assistance across several areas: awareness-raising campaigns suited to regional and cultural contexts; capacity-building workshops for maritime administrations and training institutions; support for drafting or strengthening national zero-tolerance policies; collaboration with women’s maritime networks; and facilitation of national policy review consultations.

Countries may also become founding members of the Safe Horizons Alliance, a collaborative network designed to sustain long-term commitments beyond the life of the project.

Importantly, the assistance is non-financial. Beneficiary countries are expected to contribute in-kind support, including coordination, stakeholder engagement, venue hire, interpretation and local logistics.

Member States wishing to participate must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) using the official IMO template. Applications should cover an overview of responsible institutions and their mandates; existing legal and policy frameworks relevant to violence and harassment; an assessment of gaps and challenges; key stakeholders to be engaged; and a government commitment letter designating a national focal point.

Selection will be based on demonstrated need, institutional readiness, commitment to relevant IMO instruments, potential for regional impact and alignment with the project’s objectives.