Supporting gender equality, empowering women - World Maritime Day 2019

Supporting gender equality, empowering women - World Maritime Day 2019

On 26 September, IMO and the global maritime community celebrated the annual World Maritime Day, under the theme “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community”.

“Gender equality has been recognized as one of the key platforms on which people can build a sustainable future. It is one of the 17 goals that underpin the UN’s Sustainable Development Agenda, which countries all over the world have pledged to implement,” said IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim.

“Helping our Member States achieve the SDGs and deliver the 2030 Agenda is one of our key strategic directions. Gender equality and decent work for all are among those goals - SDGs 5 and 8 - and, although we are highlighting the role of women in the maritime community this year, I want to stress that this is part of a continuing, long-term effort in support of these objectives,” Mr. Lim said. This year, IMO invited the entire maritime world to highlight and showcase their commitment to empowering women and to supporting SDG 5 on gender equality.

Numerous activities throughout 2019 have helped support the message that, for sustainability and success in the modern world, empowering women in the maritime community makes sense. Shipping needs diversity in the workforce.

“Women in the maritime world today are strong, powerful and constantly challenging old-fashioned perceptions,” Mr. Lim said.

“Experience tells us that diversity is better; it’s better for teamwork, better for leadership - and better for commercial performance. The maritime world is changing. And for the better. With help from IMO, and other organizations, exciting and rewarding career opportunities are opening up for women. And a new generation of strong and talented women are responding. They are proving that in today’s world the maritime industries are for everyone. It’s not about your gender, it’s about what you can do,”.

Mr. Lim urged all stakeholders to continue to work to break down barriers and empower women in the maritime community.

IMO’s Women in Maritime programme will continue to support the empowerment of women in the maritime sector in years to come, through gender specific fellowships; by facilitating access to high-level technical training for women in the maritime sector in developing countries; by creating the environment in which women are identified and selected for career development opportunities in maritime administrations, ports and maritime training institutes; and by facilitating the establishment of professional women-in-maritime associations, particularly in developing countries.

World Maritime Day is an official United Nations day. Every year, it provides an opportunity to focus attention on the importance of shipping and other maritime activities and to emphasize a particular aspect of IMO’s work. Each year has its own world maritime theme, which is used to steer events and activities throughout the year.

Governments, individually, jointly and regionally are encouraged to mark World Maritime Day on a date of their choosing but usually in the last week of September.

A series of activities and events have been held during 2019 related to the theme, Empowering Women in the Maritime Community. Many maritime stakeholders have enthusiastically taken up the theme, which has been highlighted at seminars, conferences and panel discussions.

IMO has been directly involved in numerous events. Among other activities, an IMO film Turning the Tide, showing how IMO’s Women in Maritime programme is helping to support gender diversity in the maritime sector, premiered earlier this year.

Colombia’s World Maritime Day Parallel Event

“Shipping must draw talent from every corner of the globe and every sector of the population to ensure its own sustainability.” This was a key message from IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim, in his opening remarks to the 2019 IMO World Maritime Day Parallel Event in Santiago, Colombia.

“Improving the participation of women in society leads to better social and economic outcomes. This is also true in the maritime community. So, it is critical that women are provided with equal access to opportunities at all levels and within all sectors of the maritime industry. Experience shows that, when they are given those opportunities, women are strong and successful – continually challenging old-fashioned and outdated perceptions and proving that, today, the maritime industries are for everyone,” Mr. Lim said.

The World Maritime theme for 2019, “Empowering women in the maritime community” was prominent throughout the high-level event. Speakers and panellists also emphasised the relevance of the United Nations agenda for sustainable development, with its associated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Mr. Lim highlighted the challenges ahead – including the need for action to combat climate change as presented in IMO’s initial GHG strategy - as well as the opportunities for a sector which drives global trade and development.

“The global shipping sector is essential for a sustainable future. But maritime activities themselves need to be sustainable - and an important part of IMO’s role is to ensure that shipping continues to make its contribution to global trade and development in a sustainable way,” Mr. Lim said.

Finally, five women with illustrious careers in the maritime field shared their stories of how they achieved success in a deeply moving and personal exchange of experiences. They were: Katy Ware, Director of Maritime Safety and Standards, United Kingdom Maritime and Coastguard Agency; Despina Panayiotou, President, WISTA International; Liliana Monsalve, Head of Claims, IOPC Funds; Angela Pinilla, Manager, ECOPETROL; and Helen Buni, focal point for the IMO Women in Maritime programme.

All paid homage to the key mentors and sponsors who helped shape their careers and encouraged the audience to seek out or serve as a mentor for young women entering the maritime endeavour.