As part of the COST Association – European Cooperation in Science and Technology Action hashtag#BlueRights launch event hosted by SOAS and BIICL on 23-24 January 2025, Working Group 1 on the right to life met to share expertise, identify common issues of concern and plan our research and engagement agenda for the next three years. Over thirty experts and stakeholders from across Europe joined the session live and online to draw up plans to host training events and networking opportunities to build a better understanding of how we can respond to threats to the right to life at sea. This also included proposals for scientific papers and policy guidelines/tools for stakeholders and beneficiaries of our research. Fruitful discussions included questions about missing persons, gaps in international agreements, particularly with respect to implementation, the potential risks and opportunities around new technologies, and how the challenges varied between different sectors, such as fishing, offshore platforms and commercial shipping.

Working Group 1 (coordinated by Richard Barnes) has three Sub-Working groups:
SWG1 (led by Ainhoa Campàs Velasco, Jacques Hartmann, and Věra Honusková) focuses on search and rescue at sea;
SWG2 (led by Alexander Lott, Ioannis Stribis, and Neri Kiara) focuses on the use of force; and SWG3 (led by Henrik Ringbom, Mitja Grbec and Signe Jensen) focuses on incidental and accidental loss of life, including in the workplace.

For more information on BlueRights, please visit the BlueRights COST website (https://lnkd.in/d_pmXa7z). A number of activities relevant to the work of WG1 will be advertised for 2025 and 2026. To follow the activities of WG1, follow us here at the BlueRights LinkedIn page. The website provides details of how to join BlueRights. We are keen to expand our network, particularly with expertise in SWG3, and from any stakeholders in industry, government and civil society groups.