IMO Prepares To Celebrate The International Day For Women In Maritime 2024

The International Maritime Organization is all set to celebrate the International Day for Women in Maritime on May 18, 2024.

The theme for 2024 is “Safe Horizons: Women Shaping the Future of Maritime Safety”.

This yearly event recognises women’s essential contributions to the maritime sector while advocating for empowerment and equality.

The International Maritime Organization is hosting several programs and initiatives to raise awareness and promote gender equality in the maritime industry.

One of the main events is the symposium, which is scheduled for May 17, 2024, at the IMO Headquarters in London.

The symposium will also be live-streamed on the IMO’s YouTube channel.

The symposium-themed “Safe Horizons: Women Shaping the Future of Maritime Safety” will feature several prominent speakers, including seafarers, maritime professionals, and leaders.

The discussions will focus on reframing maritime safety through a women’s perspective and developing a holistic approach to sea safety that considers genders.

Mr Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary General of the IMO, highlighted the necessity of celebrating women’s achievements, campaigning for equal opportunities, and realising the full potential of a diverse workforce.

Gender equality has long been the priority of the International Maritime Organization.

Statistics show that women represent only 29% of the total maritime workforce and only 20% of the workforce of the national maritime authority.

Furthermore, women account for less than 2% of seafarers worldwide.

The IMO will demonstrate initiatives to bridge these gaps, such as the All Aboard Alliance’s Diversity@Sea project.

The initiative consists of 11 shipping companies implementing measures onboard their vessels to encourage diversity, such as having at least four women on the crew.

The first-ever Gender Equality Award will be presented to the former president of the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA), Ms Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou, for her pivotal role in empowering women and gender equality during her tenure while serving as the President of WISTA.

The IMO Council also commended several other nominees for their significant achievements in gender equality in maritime, including Mikael Skov from Denmark, Sanjam Sahi Gupta from India, Commodore Amit Srivastava from India, Eunjung Heo from the Republic of Korea, and Camille Dyan A. Simbulan from the Philippines.

The establishment of the annual IMO Gender Equality Award in 2023 demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to recognising and rewarding those making a positive change in the maritime industry.

International Day for Women in Maritime is a reminder of the necessity of encouraging diversity, equality and inclusion in all parts of the maritime sector.

IMO Member States, the maritime sector, and stakeholders worldwide are encouraged to participate in and commemorate this important day in a meaningful way.

Reference: IMO

IMO Prepares To Celebrate The International Day For Women In Maritime 2024 appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News