Saturday September 25, 11 a.m.
Ukrainian Consulate, 240 E. 49th Street, NYC

Douglas B. Stevenson, Esq., director of the Seamen's Church Institute's (SCI) Center for Seafarers' Rights, and Mr. Serhiy Pohoreltsev, consul general of Ukraine in New York, will sign an agreement September 25 at the Consulate General of Ukraine in New York that will enhance and strengthen the rights of Ukrainian seafarers.

"Protecting human rights, economic interests, and security depends on forging strong public and private partnerships. The Ukrainian government is making a historic commitment to protecting their citizen seafarers' human rights by this innovation collaboration with Seamen's Church Institute," said Mr. Stevenson.

With 6.3 percent of the world's 1.23 million merchant mariners, Ukraine is the third largest seafaring nation according to statistics compiled by Cardiff University's Seafarers' International Research Center. Ukraine's economy is dependent upon shipping, both in terms of movement of goods in commerce and in terms of wages earned by Ukrainian merchant mariners abroad.

"The Ukrainian government recognizes that it must proactively protect the human rights of our seafarers. This partnership will help us to understand the challenges seafarers face and provide more resources to help these vulnerable workers and our diplomats," said Mr. Konstiantyn Gryschenko, minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine who is in New York for the opening of the UN General Assembly.

The agreement includes assisting Ukrainian seafarers, sharing data, monitoring problems affecting Ukrainian seafarers and vessels, joint preparation of seminars and conferences, and developing national and international policies affecting seafarers.

SCI's Center for Seafarers' Rights is a worldwide resource for legal research, education, advocacy and assistance on seafarers' rights issues. The Center provides free counseling and referrals to merchant seafarers and seafarers' welfare agencies worldwide. The Center also works to improve national and international laws and practices protecting seafarers and improving maritime safety. CSR participates in IMO meetings, States Parties to the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention in New York City, and the International Labor Organization in Geneva.

The Seamen's Church Institute's mission is to advance the personal, professional, and spiritual well being of mariners worldwide. Established in 1834, SCI is an ecumenical agency affiliated with the Episcopal Church. To learn more about SCI, please visit www.seamenschurch.org.