Human rights & gender equality

How can your fishery benefit all community members in an equitable manner? A human rights-based approach recognizes and promotes the roles of all fishery stakeholders, while uplifting women and other marginalized people. Upholding the rights of all people through inclusive, participatory decision-making and working towards preventing human-rights abuses is fundamental to successful small-scale fisheries. Start here to learn about gender equity and equality and use the sub-categories below to identify stakeholders and understand their rights, and yours. 

Subcategories

Resources

Cases Concerning Indigenous People's Rights and Fisheries

The report is based on previous publications and cases compiled by the Danish Institute for Human Rights, input from the Expert Meeting organised at the margins of the 2023 Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, as well as additional desk research. It was developed and published with financial support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) through the project “Sustainable Oceans – Pursuing a human rights-based approach to fisheries and aquaculture”

Human rights-based approach to the implementation and monitoring of the SSF Guidelines - Background Paper

The paper aims to explain and demonstrate what human rights-based approach (HRBA) means in relation to the various thematic areas and actors addressed in the SSF Guidelines.

The rights of Indigenous peoples in the context of fisheries and aquaculture

This brief examines the respect, protection and fulfilment of Indigenous peoples’ rights to marine resources, marine territories and coastal land, and give guidance for indigenous peoples on what can be claimed in relation to specific human rights.

A Human Rights-Based Approach to Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture

A fact sheet on a human rights-based approach to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture

Sector-wide Human Rights Impact Assessment (SWIA) in small-scale artisanal fishing communities in Barguna and Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh

This report presents the findings of a sector wide human rights impact assessment (SWIA)1 carried out in small-scale artisanal fishing communities in Barguna and Cox’s Bazar Districts in Bangladesh during 2019-2020.

Guidelines for Supporting Fishery Improvement Projects

With the 2022 update, the Guidelines explain how FIPs create opportunities to drive change through collective public-private action to address human rights and labor rights issues. To identify social risks, the Guidelines recommend that FIPs use the Social Responsibility Assessment Tool for the Seafood Sector (SRA), a rapid assessment tool that FIPs can use to identify areas of risk related to social issues, or similar tool.

Blue Infrastructure Supporting SDG 14 in Coastal Communities in Indonesia

In this white paper, “Blue Infrastructure Supporting SDG 14 in Coastal Communities in Indonesia,” we outline the pros, cons, and impact of blue infrastructure solutions, alternatives, and adaptations to gray infrastructure that will best suit the needs of coastal communities in Indonesia. We provide examples of what is working around the world, and hope this serves as a resource for other partners and decision-makers who want to achieve U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water.

Empowering Marginalised Actors

To empower marginalised actors to become willing and able to engage proactively with more powerful market actors.

Small-scale fisheries and sustainable development

Key findings from the Illuminating Hidden Harvests report - This brief presents the main results from the Illuminating Hidden Harvests (IHH) report, providing new, clearer insights to support the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Photostory: The small-scale fisheries and aquaculture sector in Asia: Small in scale, big in value

This photostory book celebrates the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 (IYAFA 2022) by showing the diversity of the small-scale fisheries and aquaculture sector in Asia, as home to the majority of the world's small-scale fishers, fish farmers, and fish workers.

Women and men in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture in Asia

Fisheries and aquaculture contribute to food security and livelihoods of millions of people in Asia. Both women and men are engaged in fisheries and aquaculture. In the past ten years, many actors have worked on raising awareness on women’s contribution as well as promoting gender equality in fisheries and aquaculture. This study aims to consolidate the efforts to date to provide recommendations for action and future studies.

Small-Scale Fisheries and the Human Right to Adequate Food

This handbook has been developed to support the joint implementation of the SSF Guidelines and the Right to Food Guidelines through an integrated approach and to increase policy coherence and uptake. The document provides an overview of the contents of these voluntary guidelines and identifies potential synergies. It also explains the human rights-based approach and discusses some crucial areas, with special attention to the specific roles and responsibilities of key actors.

Inclusive social development and decent work for enhancing small-scale fisheries resilience to the COVID-19 pandemic

This document is part of a series of briefs framed under the provisions of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines). The briefs aim to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the livelihoods and sustainable development of the small-scale fisheries sector and provide examples of coping strategies.

IPNLF Human Interest Stories: Susana Sousa

Nestled in the hills of Sao Jorge, Azores, the Santa Catarina Tuna Canning Factory employs over 120 women to process, can and distribute locally caught one-by-one tuna. Learn more about the work of Susana Sousa, an employee of the factory.

Post-harvest practices for empowering women in small-scale fisheries in Africa

Post-harvest challenges faced by small-scale fisheries stakeholders have been the focus of numerous projects, programmes and investments in Africa. Many of these initiatives have aimed to benefit women, who often dominate processing and trade activities.

This report provides a summary of key findings from a desk review and primary data research that has aimed to identify successful post-harvest initiatives related to infrastructure design and management, improved post-harvest technology, value addition and access to finance.

A methodological guide for mapping women's small-scale fishery organizations to assess their capacities and needs

The purpose of this methodological guide is to outline how to conduct an empirical assessment of the current landscape of women’s small-scale fishery (SSF) organizations.

Advancing Gender in the Environment: Gender in Fisheries – A Sea of Opportunity

This guide provides an overview of the unique roles and contributions women make in the wild-caught fisheries sector. The guide also explains how persistent gender inequalities limit women’s economic empowerment, and increased risks of gender-based violence negatively impact the potential of women to thrive and contribute towards strong economies.

Tackling child labour in fisheries and aquaculture

This background paper presents the challenges, opportunities, and recommendations to tackle child labour in fisheries and aquaculture.

Traditional Knowledge of Northern Waters

Traditional Knowledge of Northern Waters 2018 was a project that focused on two iconic Arctic river basins in the Fennoscandian and Russian North – the Skolt Sámi home stream of Näätämö river flowing from Finland to the Barents Sea and Ponoi river on Kola Peninsula, Russia. A third geographical area of the project was the coastal community of Sosnovka which is in close proximity to the Ponoi river mouth. The project benefitted from previous scientific work that commenced in the area 2006.

The project was led by the Snowchange Cooperative (FI) with House of Culture (Lovozero, Russia) and CBM – Swedish Biodiversity Center being project partners together with Sámi organisations. Funding was provided by NEFCO PECC-1 Programme.

Territories of Life: 2021 Report

Territories of Life: 2021 Report is a local-to-global analysis of territories and areas conserved by Indigenous peoples and local communities (sometimes abbreviated as “ICCAs” or “territories of life”). This multi-scale approach weaves together diverse perspectives, insights and new findings about the grassroots global phenomenon of territories of life while also creating space for nuance and complexity. Overall, the report adds to a growing body of literature on the incontrovertible role of Indigenous peoples and local communities in ensuring a healthy planet for all, and the urgent actions required to support them.