International law, the right to rescue and the duties of governments in providing maritime search and rescue services

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Public International Law, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran

2 Department of International Law, Khorasgan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

3 Department of International Law, Bushehr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran

10.30510/psi.2022.341695.3446

Abstract

Seas have always been considered by individuals and states due to their special characteristics and importance. This importance has caused human beings to take their activities to seas and enjoy its blessings. The existence of interests in the exploitation of this field has always caused some differences among the stakeholders and beneficiaries. International law's scholars established international law of the sea, one of the oldest branches of international law, to regulate matters related to seas. As much as seas are beneficial to human beings, the dangers in them can also threaten the lives of people active in related fields. The right to life, which is the cornerstone of human rights, calls for measures to be taken to save the lives of those in need at sea. These provisions in the form of human rights and maritime conventions impose obligations on states. One of these tasks is to provide maritime search and rescue services to save the lives of people at risk at sea. In other words, such a duty arises from the right that every person should personally enjoy when he is in a situation of danger, and that right is nothing but the right to be rescued, because the right to be rescued is in line with the right to life.

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