International Women's Day 2021

IMO has been making a concerted effort to help the maritime industry move forward and support women to achieve a representation within the community. Through its Women in Maritime programme, IMO has taken a strategic approach towards enhancing the contribution of women as key maritime stakeholders.

To continue with this work and to celebrate International Women's Day on Monday, 8 March 2021, IMO launched the online campaign #MyMaritimeMentor.

Women and the global maritime community were invited to participate by sharing a photo of their mentor and this card, using the hashtag #MyMaritimeMentor on social media: Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. Participants also used Facebook to share their photos, stories or tributes to their mentors.

“Mentors are invaluable navigational aids for individuals along their career path," IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim said. 

Twitter
Facebook
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This campaign provides the opportunity for individuals to recognize the work of an inspiring mentor in the maritime industry. This reflects the 2021 UN-Women theme: "Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world".

IMO is strongly committed to helping its Member States achieve the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular,  Goal 5 "Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls" and Goal 8, decent work for all.

In 2019, the IMO Assembly adopted Resolution A.1147(31) on Preserving the legacy of the World Maritime theme for 2019 and Achieving a Barrier-Free Working Environment for Women in the Maritime Sectorwhich urges firm action in coming years to advance gender equality throughout the maritime sector and help create an enabling work environment that embraces equality, diversity and reduces bias.

Women in Maritime

IMO's gender programme was initiated in 1988. Since then, IMO's gender and capacity-building programme has helped put in place an institutional framework to incorporate a gender dimension into IMO's policies and procedures. This has supported access to maritime training and employment opportunities for women in the maritime sector.

Under IMO's auspices, seven Women in Maritime Associations (WIMAs) have been established. IMO is also supporting women through its global maritime training institutions such as the World Maritime University (WMU) and its Women's Association (WMUWA) and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI).

More information about Women in Maritime can be found here.

Women in Maritime – Survey

IMO and WISTA International have launched the Women in Maritime – IMO and WISTA International Survey 2021 to examine the proportion and distribution of women working in the maritime sector, from support roles to executive level positions. IMO invites Members States and companies/NGOS to fill in the survey to provide essential baseline data.

The survey is part of a series of activities aimed at laying the groundwork for further discussions on how to build a more diverse workforce within the maritime sector, essential for a sustainable future. The data obtained by the survey will help build a picture of diversity and gender equality in the industry.

The deadline for the completion of the survey is 30 June 2021.