Human Rights and Law Enforcement at Sea ― Arrest, Detention and Transfer of Piracy Suspects

Law enforcement at sea has become an increasingly important tool for combating transnational crime. Such law enforcement operations are commonly directed by multinational missions composed of military rather than police forces, and are often carried out in maritime areas not subject to national jurisdiction. Because of these characteristics, maritime law enforcement operations touch upon many unresolved human rights issues. In the present study, counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and in the Indian Ocean serve as the quintessential example of how law enforcement measures taken at sea may fall short of international human rights standards. This work is a valuable contribution to legal scholarship dealing with the human rights dimension of maritime law enforcement operations. It is a useful, timely and innovative resource for both academics and legal practitioners alike, or any person interested in the applicability and scope of human rights norms in the maritime context.

Dr. Anna Petrig is a post-doc researcher at the University of Basel, Switzerland. She is a member of the Management Committee of MARSAFENET (network of experts on the legal aspects of maritime safety and security; COST Action IS1105) and co-leader of its Working Group on International Maritime Security and Boarder Surveillance. Anna Petrig is a member of the Bar of the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, and the New York State Bar. She holds a PhD from the University of Basel and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School.