Mobilizing Networks For Gender Equality

“Women are working in all facets of the maritime sector across the globe, on shore and at sea. There is still a significant gender imbalance in maritime. Times are changing but we need to accelerate that change.”- Kitack Lim, Secretary General- International Maritime Organization (IMO). Historically, women were not encouraged to work outside the home. While much has changed over the years women are still experiencing discrimination and biases as it relates to certain jobs. More focus and attention should be given to women who work in the maritime industry considering that this area of work is discriminatorily dominated by men. The International Day for Women in Maritime is observed on May 18th each year. According to the Women in Maritime Association Caribbean (WiMAC), women represent two percent of the world's 1.2 million seafarers, with 94 percent of female seafarers working in the cruise industry. The WiMAC was established in 2015 under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to amplify discussion on the progress and development in the global maritime sector for women. The Maritime Industry is waterborne commerce; it is about moving people and goods over the water. Maritime is everything connected to the sea or waterways throughout the world, especially in relation to navigation, shipping, and marine engineering. The industry has a direct impact on much of our everyday lives. One only has to think about the petrol that powers our cars, the foods we eat, and the clothes we wear, all of which are imported. International Day for Women in Maritime was first observed in 2021 to celebrate women in the industry. The theme this year is “Mobilizing Networks for Gender Equality”. The day celebrates women in the industry and is intended to promote the recruitment, retention and sustained employment of women in the maritime sector. It is hoped that by observing this important day it will also serve to 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. As a specialized agency of the United Nations, IMO is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented.

Gender Equality. The world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030. The United Nations adds that at the current rate of progress, it is estimated that it will take up to 286 years to close gaps in legal protection and remove discriminatory laws, 140 years for women to be represented equally in positions of power and leadership in the workplace, and 47 years to achieve equal representation in national parliaments. Cascading global crises have highlighted and exacerbated existing gender inequalities, such as unequal access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. Political leadership and a comprehensive set of policy reforms are needed to dismantle systemic barriers to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal #4. Based on data collected in 2022 in 119 countries, 55% of the countries lacked laws that prohibit direct and indirect discrimination against women; half of the countries continued to lack quotas for women in the national parliament; 60% of the countries failed to have laws defining rape based on the principle of consent; 45% of countries did not mandate equal remuneration for work of equal value; over a third of countries failed to provide maternity leave in accordance with ILO standards; almost a quarter of countries did not grant women equal rights with men to enter into marriage and initiate divorce; and close to three-quarters of countries failed to stipulate 18 years as the minimum age of marriage for women and men, with no exceptions. Dismantling Gender-Based Barriers . Historically, girls and young women were not encouraged to enter the career paths associated with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) approximately 1 billion girls and women lack skills to succeed in today’s digital world. These statistics are even more troubling when one considers that in some countries such as Afghanistan girls are forcibly discouraged from accessing an education by the Taliban led government. As societies embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution we must provide access for more women to enter those non-traditional areas of works in order for them to realize their true potential. Governments need to implement measures aimed at dismantling structural barriers which serve to block women’s access to certain jobs. According to the United Nations women are typically given smaller research grants than their male colleagues and, while they represent 33.3% of all researchers, only 12% of members of national science academies are women. Despite a shortage of skills in most of the technological fields driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution, women still account for only 28% of engineering graduates and 40% of graduates in computer science and informatics. This is problematic and must be addressed by governments globally. Science and gender equality are both vital components for a more diverse maritime sector. As we pause to recognize the contribution of women in the maritime industry we must be mindful of some of the various roles women are part of. Women continue to contribute to the future of the maritime sector in various capacities such as navigators, engineers and surveyors. The society should also encourage more women and girls to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. Women and girls should be lauded for entering into those careers which are grounded in STEM. The time to break the traditional gender stereotypes is now. Women should be encouraged to mobilize their various networks in order to achieve equality among the sexes. In order to achieve sustainable development more women should be encouraged to enter the fields of navigation and maritime sciences. Happy International Day for Women in Maritime! In the words of Dr. Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, we must all work together to be bold, innovate, and ensure that there are equal opportunities for everyone because equality in the maritime industry is key to helping to achieve a sustainable future for the industry as a whole. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #WomenInMaritimeDay