Let’s celebrate women
IN his message for the inaugural IMO International Day for Women in Maritime IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim highlights the relevance of gender equality.
"At IMO through training, visibility, recognition we aim 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 said.
For more than three decades, IMO has been supporting gender equality through our women in maritime program, seeking to empower women in the sector through training, visibility and recognition. To provide an opportunity to highlight and celebrate women in maritime, during last December's Assembly, IMO Member States designated May 18, 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 government and industry, those chairing IMO organ meetings and women in every other role across the industry.
Women are working in all facets of the maritime sector across the globe to support the transition to a decarbonised, digitalised and more sustainable future for the industry. There is still a gender imbalance in maritime – but times are changing as it becomes recognised that diversity in maritime benefits the entire sector.
As I have emphasised previously, it is not about your gender – it is about what you can do.
At IMO through training, visibility, recognition we aim 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.
I wish you all a happy 'International Day for Women in Maritime!'
Above: It is not about your gender – it is about what you can do.