IMO celebrates ‘International Day for Women in Maritime 2023’ Today

May 18, 2023 India Shipping News

LONDON : The inaugural IMO International Day for Women in Maritime on 18 May 2022 focused on the theme “Training-Visibility-Recognition: Supporting a barrier-free working environment”.

The IMO invites everyone in the maritime industry to celebrate the International Day for Women in Maritime on social media using the hashtag #WomenInMaritimeDay.

The International Day for Women in Maritime is held each year on May 18 to celebrate women working across the maritime industry. This year’s theme is: “Mobilizing networks for gender equality”.

The day celebrates women in the industry and promotes the recruitment, retention and sustained employment of women in the maritime sector, raise the profile of women in maritime, strengthen the IMO’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (gender equality) and support work to address the current gender imbalance in maritime.

The IMO has been supporting gender equality for more than three decades through its women in maritime programme, seeking to empower women in the sector through training, visibility and recognition. The IMO works in partnership with many like-minded entities including IMOGEN – its maritime diplomats for gender equality and WISTA International.

IMO Secretary-General, Kitack Lim, said: “There is still a significant gender imbalance in maritime. Times are changing – but we need to accelerate that change.”

This is the second year of May 18 celebrations. “Let us once again use this opportunity to celebrate the many women who are contributing to the future of maritime: navigators, engineers, surveyors, CEOs, managers, representatives of government and industry, those chairing IMO meetings, and women in every role across the industry. Happy International Day for Women in Maritime!”

Message from IMO Secretary-General

In his message for the inaugural IMO International Day for Women in Maritime, IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim, highlighted 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.

IMO Symposium 

The virtual Symposium on “Training-Visibility-Recognition: Supporting a barrier-free working environment for Women in Maritime” was held on Wednesday 18 May 2022 

The symposium panels addressed: What type of training supports a barrier-free working environment for women in maritime? Enhancing visibility for women in the workplace/environment; Are women’s contributions to maritime accorded due recognition in the work environment? 

Overview on International Day for Women in Maritime activities 

Watch below a short video coverage of the activities that took place to highlight the first ever International Day for Women in Maritime on 18 May 2022.

The many faces of women in maritime

Women are an integral part of the maritime workforce, contributing to the success of shipping lines, ports, onshore services and more. 

For the inaugural International Women In Maritime day, IMO shared the many faces of women in maritime.