IMO calls on maritime industry to prioritise gender equality

International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez urged the maritime sector to take decisive steps towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. Speaking at an event themed ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’ on March 7 at IMO headquarters in London, Dominguez emphasised the need for industry-wide transformation.

Dominguez, who has prioritised diversity, including gender equality, stressed the importance of leading by example. Referring to a study by IMO and the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association, he highlighted the industry’s gender disparity, with women constituting only 29 per cent of the general maritime workforce and 20 per cent in national maritime authorities across member states. Female seafarers represent a mere two per cent of the approximately two million seafarers worldwide.

“I have made diversity, including gender equality, one of my priorities. I am counting on your support to transform the maritime sector. The first thing is to lead by example,” he said as the world prepared to commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8.

Dominguez outlined actions within the IMO Secretariat to address the issue, including establishing an internal Gender and Diversity Group, incorporating gender considerations into projects and programmes, and working towards achieving gender parity among staff. He has implemented a gender-balanced senior management team and a policy to abstain from participating in panels or events unless there is adequate gender representation.

Calling for collective effort, Dominguez urged member states, industry stakeholders, and colleagues to accelerate progress towards gender equality in the maritime sector.