The BlueRights 2027 International Conference on Protection of Liberty at Sea will examine how the right to liberty can be protected in maritime spaces. The conference will explore detention and confinement at sea, coercion and exploitation, seafarer abandonment, migration-control measures, maritime enforcement, State jurisdiction and obligations, private actors’ responsibilities, accountability, and access to remedies. It invites legal, socio-legal, and interdisciplinary perspectives on the conditions that shape whether people at sea can effectively enjoy their fundamental rights.
Call for Abstracts:
Scholars and stakeholders interested in presenting a paper are invited to submit an abstract of up to 800 words and a short biographical note of up to 250 words in a single document by 27 September 2026. Submissions should be sent to [email protected] and [email protected]. Abstracts will be evaluated by the organising committee by 25 October 2026. Selected participants will be invited to submit a draft paper by 24 January 2027.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CALL FOR ABSTRACTS, PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE DOCUMENT BELOW.
Publication Plans:
The conference is also intended as the basis for a collective publication project. Papers presented at the conference will be considered for inclusion in a peer-reviewed edited volume on freedom, human rights, and maritime governance.
Funding:
Participants whose proposals are selected for presentation will be reimbursed for travel and accommodation expenses in accordance with the reimbursement rules set out in the Annotated Rules for COST Actions.



