That week, the United Nations Ocean Conference gathered leading voices to analyse how action to legally recognise and protect the intrinsic value of the ocean can be accelerated.
Speakers included Prime Minister of Cabo Verde, Ulisses Correia de Silva, Former President of the Republic of Seychelles, Danny Faure, Callie Veelenturf from the Earth Law Center, The Ocean Race Chairman Richard Brisius and Kristina Gjerde, Senior High Seas Advisor to the IUCN Ocean Team and Advisor to the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
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UN Ocean Conference: speakers at The Ocean Race's ocean rights event. L - R Race Chairman Richard Brisius, The Ocean Race Summits Director Johan Strid, Prime Minister of Cabo Verde Ulisses Correia da Silva, Former President of the Republic of the Seychelles Danny Faure, Marine conservation biologist and National Geographic Explorer Callie Veelenturf, Senior High Seas Advisor to the IUCN Ocean Team and Adviser to Schmidt Ocean Institute Kristina Gjerde
© Cherie Bridges / The Ocean Race
rime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva at The Ocean Race's ocean rights event at the UN Ocean Conference © Cherie Bridges / The Ocean Race
"As for other Small Island Developing States (SIDS), for Cabo Verde the sea is a big part of our existence. It also represents our relationship with the rest of the world. In the race to protect it, the Universal Declaration of Ocean Rights is fundamental: rules are needed to protect the ocean from the impact of climate change, pollution and overfishing. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a good reference for us - it defends the dignity of human beings. The Universal Declaration of Ocean Rights defends the planet and humanity itself. It is not an option for us, it is an obligation. That is why we are here: to join our voice to make it a reality by 2030.”