Increased diversity awareness and empowerment of women in the maritime world is gaining ground lately with relevant events being held and interesting issues toping their agendas. On top of that, the theme of World Maritime Day 2019 is dedicated to empowering women in the maritime community. This article suggests key issues that could set the context for an event related to gender equality and women’s empowerment with the aim to maintain momentum on advancing gender equality and accelerate the pace of progress.
What’s on; events due in spring 2019
- Since founded in 1983 under the auspices of the IMO, the World Maritime University (WMU), Malmo, Sweden, has been committed to the advancement of women. And this April it will host its 3d International Women’s Conference under the theme “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community”.
- Since its launch in 2010, the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) initiative has been at the forefront of transforming business policies, practices and approaches to advance gender equality and create opportunities for women and girls. This March, the 2019 Women’s Empowerment Principles Forum will be held in UNHQ (ECOSOC Chamber), United States of America.
Recognizing that all the goals are interrelated and indivisible, the conferences are a call for action in support of achieving, in particular, UN SDG 5 focused on gender equality.
Moreover, and apart from the popular, abovementioned events, throughout the year, many organizations have specially designated diversity events, seminars or special gatherings to celebrate and emphasize the priority of diversity. So, what is it, that makes a diversity event successful?
10 Key issues/ideas for your diversity-centered event agenda
- How to invest in gender diversity
- Think diverse and Build diversity
- Innovate using gender perspectives
- Gender equality as a critical corporate sustainability and risk mitigation issue
- Why we need more women in leadership roles
- Making the “Future workplace” work for women
- What’s Next? Challenges and Opportunities for women in the years to come
- Closing the gender gap; enabling SDG 5 Towards Sustainable Industries
- Ensuring equal pay for work of equal value,
- Partnerships & Networking for Gender Equality
The scope of a well-organized women focused event
- To spread awareness and tackle prejudice
- To build and maintain diverse organizations
- To provide recommendations/ viable future for the industry the organization belongs to
- To provide best practice for other work sectors
Gender should not be a distinguishing factor in a world where both men and women receive equal opportunities to occupy managerial positions and are treated according to their skills, qualifications and performance.
Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou, President of WISTA International has said exclusively to SAFETY4SEA.