The British High Commission in Seychelles will host the Indian Ocean Consular Piracy Awareness Conference between September 24-26. Consular representatives from 10 British High Commissions across the Eastern Africa, Asia, and the Middle East will attend the three-day conference. Representatives from the Foreign Commonwealth Office in London will also participate.
The conference will take place at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel. It will bring FCO consular and piracy colleagues together in a network to discuss issues of mutual relevance across the region, and help inform and develop appropriate responses to British Nationals affected by piracy and its related crimes.
The conference aims to:
– Discuss UK government policy on piracy and explore the nexus with consular work in the region.
– Reduce the impact of piracy activities on British nationals in the Indian Ocean through an effective network and a coordinated consular campaign.
– Launch the Indian Ocean piracy awareness campaign “Sea Safe!”
The conference will be opened by Her Excellency Mrs. Lindsay Skoll, British High Commissioner; Seychelles Minister for Home Affairs Environment and Transport Joel Morgan; and Seychelles Minister for Tourism & Culture Alain St.Ange. It will include presentations from various piracy and consular experts, and also involve counter-piracy stakeholders from Seychelles.
The British High Commission in Victoria, Seychelles, was chosen to host the conference due to its location at the heart of the Indian Ocean and in recognition of the regional leadership and commitment Seychelles is showing in the fight against piracy. The “Sea Safe!” campaign is aimed at improving the safety and security of British nationals visiting the Indian Ocean region through robust policy and provision of information.
