Ahead of the IMO International Day for Women in Maritime on 18 May, IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim, sent a strong message expressing his gratitude and appreciation for all the women that keep the industry going forward all these years.
According to BIMCO and ICS, women currently represent 2% of the 1.5m global seafarers (45% up from 2015). Within the historically male dominated maritime industry, IMO has been trying to help the industry move forward and support women to achieve a representation that is in keeping with 21st century expectations.
Gender equality is recognized as a key platform for a sustainable future. It is enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goal 5, one of the 17 goals, that underpin the UN’s Sustainable Development Agenda, which countries all over the world have pledged to implement.
For more than 3 decades, IMO has been supporting gender equality through our Women in Maritime programme, seeking to empower women in the sector through training, visibility and recognition.
…said Kitack Lim.
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To provide an opportunity to highlight and celebrate women in maritime, during last December’s Assembly, IMO Member States designated 18 May each year, to acknowledge and pay tribute to the accomplishments of maritime women. Additionally, the observance will promote the recruitment, retention and sustained employment of women in the maritime sector and support work to address the current gender imbalance in maritime.
On this inaugural international day for women in maritime, let’s take this opportunity to celebrate the many women who are contributing to the future of maritime: navigators, engineers, surveyors, CEO’s, managers, representatives of governments and industry, those chairing IMO organ meetings and women in every other role across the industry
…he said.
Women are working in all facets of the maritime sector across the globe to support the transition to a decarbonized digitalized and more sustainable future for the maritime industry. There is still a gender imbalance in maritime but times are changing as it becomes recognized that diversity in maritime benefits the entire sector.
Today, maritime is for everyone. As I emphasized previously it is not about your gender – it is about what you can do
…Kitack Lim stressed.
According to him, at IMO through training, visibility, recognition, the organization aims to support a barrier-free working environment for women in maritime.
Let’s work to break down barriers and ensure that we create a work environment that is enabling supportive and inclusive of diverse participation by all, without hindrance in the maritime community
…he concluded.
A few days ago, the IMO gave stage to women leaders making a real difference in shipping, to share their professional experience.