Empower women in maritime communities
SEAFARERS, members and supporters of the maritime fraternity turned up in numbers to be part of the World Maritime Day celebration held at Ratu Sukuna Park in Suva last Friday.
With the theme "Empowering Women in the Maritime Community" this year's celebration was to raise awareness on the importance of gender equality and highlight the important contribution women in the maritime sector play.
Chief guest and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Jone Usamate says empowering women within the maritime sector is not only an idea, but it is also a necessity encouraging Fijians to continue to support our women.
He said the notion that shipping had always been a male-dominated industry had changed and it must change.
"Gender equality is now being recognised as one of the key platforms on which people can build a sustainable future," Mr Usamate said.
"There is no limit what women can accomplish, translating this into action requires bold and forward-thinking maritime administrations, men and women that are prepared to break our sociocultural silos," he said.
He said more women on board would go a long way to solving challenges faced by the maritime industry — especially the shortage of skilled seafarers.
"Fiji needs women in the maritime community to take this message seriously and I therefore wish to re-echo the 2019 World Maritime Day theme, Empowering Women in the Maritime Community.
"Empowering women fuels thriving economies across nations, spurs growth and development and benefits all of us working in the maritime community as we strive towards a safe, secure, clean and sustainable shipping."
The United Nations (UN), via the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), created World Maritime Day to celebrate the international maritime industry's contribution towards the world's economy, especially in shipping.