IMO ENCOURAGES WOMEN IN THE MARITIME AND PORT SECTORS
From 2 to 3 September 2024, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) organised a conference in Sao Tomé and Principe to highlight women's contribution to Africa's maritime sector.
The conference themed "Safety first: women working together to shape the future of the maritime sector in Africa", brought together associations such as WIMOWCA, WOMESA and RFMP-AOC to explore the role of women in enhancing maritime safety, as well as their participation in decision-making processes.
The conference also looked at ways of developing women's technical skills to ensure greater inclusion in the sector, thereby addressing key issues such as piracy, transnational crime and the preservation of the marine environment. It was recommended that cooperation between States be strengthened to promote sustainable maritime governance.
The IMO also shared statistics indicating a low representation of women in technical positions (14%). Efforts must therefore be made to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5 on gender equality. The conference further emphasised on the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adopt the use of clean energy in the sector activities, given that maritime transport accounts for 3% of global emissions.
Lastly, technologies such as automatic identification systems (AIS) and GPS were singled out as essential tools to guarantee maritime safety and effective communication. Networks of women's associations remain an important means to better involve women in maritime affairs.