World celebrates International Day for Women in Maritime on 18 May

"INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR WOMEN IN MARITIME"
18 May 2022
Message by Kitack Lim, Secretary-General - view the video here International Day for Women in Maritime 2022 (imo.org)
International Maritime Organization
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 United Nations’
Sustainable Development Agenda, which countries all over the world have pledged to implement.
For more than three 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.
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 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 decarbonized, digitalized and more sustainable future for the 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 have emphasized 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"!
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