CC: Danny Faure 2023
the udor
initiative
progress toward a universal declaration of ocean rights
For Millennia
For Pacific and Indigenous cultures, the Ocean has always been much more than a vast body of water; it is kin and ancestor, a living entity integral to their identity and existence. This perspective has been passed down through millennia, embedded in cultural practices, languages, and rituals that reinforce the Ocean's role as a life-giving force and a central figure in the creation and sustenance of life.
2017
In 2017, headlines were erupting. Rivers, forests, and Nature were being recognized as subjects of rights all over the world. But only a select few were talking about the Rights of Nature movement within the context of the Ocean. This is why Michelle Bender created the Ocean Rights Framework – to address this gap and help transform the human-Ocean relationship from one of exploitation to stewardship.
2018
In November 2018, 22 participants from 8 countries gathered in Aotearoa/New Zealand for “a feasibility study on rights of the Pacific Ocean” and produced a statement based on the collective thinking of those present. The statement reiterates the kinship Pacific Islanders have with the Ocean and the recognition that the Ocean is an entity, a being, and our source of life.
MARCH 2022
The initiative towards a Universal Declaration of Ocean Rights, inspired by these previous actions, was launched in March 2022 in Genoa, Italy, by The Ocean Race, Earth Law Center, Nature’s Rights, and the municipality of Genoa. A core group was created comprising Antonio Di Natale, Callie Veelenturf, Patricia Sala, Lucy Hunt, Richard Brisius, Bronwen Golder, Mumta Ito, Michelle Bender, Johan Strid, and Rachel Bustamante.
March 2022 -September 2023
Eight ‘Innovation Workshops’ (termed the ‘Genova Process’) were held from March 2022 to September 2023. The workshops gathered over 150 stakeholders of all expertise and representations, initiating critical dialogues on the vision, scope, strategies, pathways, and challenges towards international recognition of Ocean Rights.
2022 - 2023
Alongside The Ocean Race 2022-2023 stopovers, six summits were held in six countries across four continents, raising awareness on Ocean Rights while gaining official support from governments (Genoa, Italy; Aarhus, Denmark; The Hague, Netherlands; Itajaí, Brazil; Newport, Rhode Island; the state of Rhode Island, USA; Kiel, Germany; and the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil).
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January 2023
In January 2023, at The Ocean Race Summit in Mindelo, Cabo Verde, over 300 representatives of government, science, NGOs, sailing teams, businesses, and other national and international institutions issued The Mindelo Declaration. The declaration states: “The Ocean has the inherent right to exist, thrive, and regenerate its vital cycles, to integral health, diversity, and restoration and is revered by many as a source of spiritual and cultural sustenance with whom we have responsibilities to respect and care for.” It urged all nations “to recognize the inherent rights and intrinsic value of the ocean, and to support a future decision on a Universal Declaration of Ocean Rights.”
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The World Resources Institute listed the Universal Declaration of Ocean Rights as one of five major moments that can help make progress in restoring and maintaining Ocean health.
SEPTEMBER 2023
In September 2023, after feedback from the Genova Process Workshops, bilateral meetings, and an online comment period, the document ‘We are the Ocean and the Ocean is Us’ was formally presented at the United Nations at The Ocean Race Summit: Presenting Ocean Rights. This living document, outlines principles to establish a robust foundation for ongoing international dialogue on Ocean Rights.​
Ocean Rights received support from representatives of Panama, Brazil, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank, and Volvo Cars. Cabo Verde, supported by Monaco, proposed a text in the 2023 Omnibus Resolution on Oceans and Law of the Sea, encouraging States to explore and understand Ocean Rights further. The proposal led to significant dialogue, with only one State not consenting to the final revisions, highlighting the growing consensus on the importance of recognizing the Ocean's inherent value.
In September 2023 at The Ocean Race Summit: Presenting Ocean Rights, Ocean Rights received support from speakers representing Panama, Brasil, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and Volvo Cars.