The International Maritime Organization (IMO) will provide an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of gender equality at this year’s World Maritime Day with the “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community” theme.

In line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the theme would also highlight the important, yet under-utilized, contribution of women within the maritime sector.

It gives IMO the opportunity to work with various maritime stakeholders to foster an environment in which women are identified and selected for career development opportunities in maritime administrations, ports and maritime training institutes and to encourage more conversation for gender equality in the maritime space.

“Empowering women fuels thriving economies across the world, spurs growth and development, and benefits everyone working in the global maritime community in the drive towards safe, secure, clean and sustainable shipping,” IMO’s Kitack Lim earlier said.

​A series of activities and events will be held during 2019 related to the theme Empowering Women in the Maritime Community. Events will include the 3rd International conference on Empowering Women in the Maritime Community at the World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden, to be held in April, World Maritime Day Parallel Event 2019 in Cartagena, Colombia, and Celebration of World Maritime Day at IMO Headquarters, both scheduled in September.

Reference: worldmaritimenews.com