A regional conference supporting women in the maritime sector is being held in Debre Zeyit, Ethiopia (23-26 February). Under the theme “Every Mile Counts: Building a legacy by women in the maritime sector" the event is providing assistance to the Association of Women Managers in the Maritime Sector in East and Southern Africa (WOMESA), focusing on key achievements through constitutional, legislative and institutional reforms – both for and by women.

WOMESA was launched through IMO’s gender and capacity-building programme in 2007 and advocates for reforms that will raise recognition of women in the maritime sector and give them equal opportunities to their male counterparts. This is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number five (SDG 5), which aims to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”.