News: UNHCR Issues Legal Note on Rescue at Sea

Legal Considerations on the Roles and Responsibilities of States in Relation to Rescue at Sea, Non-refoulement, and Access to Asylum (Dec. 2022) 

- "This note summarises key legal principles and State obligations under international refugee, human rights, and maritime law relevant to rescue and disembarkation situations affecting people who seek or may be in need of international protection."

This guidance should be read in conjunction with an earlier document entitled "General legal considerations: search-and-rescue operations involving refugees and migrants at sea."

Also referenced as a related document is the statement issued in May 2022 by a group of UN organizations on "The concept of place of safety under international law and the respect of the rights of migrants and refugees rescued at sea by all States."

This UNHCR resource published in 2011 contains a number of relevant reference materials relating to "Rescue at Sea, Stowaways and Maritime Interception."