Korea Maritime Week 2023 - Event on International Day for Women in Maritime

Korea Maritime Week 2023 - Event on International Day for Women in Maritime

Wednesday 14 June 2023

Opening of the event - Mr. Kitack Lim, Secretary-General, IMO

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,  

It is an honour and pleasure to be here to celebrate the International Day for Women in Maritime. The day was officially marked on 18 May at IMO Headquarters in London and around the world. And now, here today, we again have the opportunity to celebrate the incredible achievements of women in the maritime sector – while recognizing the challenges that still lie ahead. 

Maritime transport and ocean-related industries are critical for international trade and play a key role in ensuring sustainable development for all. They do offer abundant career opportunities in the areas of science, policy, and the blue economy. Yet women continue to be under-represented in all these fields. This needs to change. 

We must continue to push our collective endeavours to ensure gender equality and women's empowerment in the maritime sector, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5. IMO recognizes that gender equality is not merely a desirable outcome; it is an essential prerequisite for a thriving and resilient maritime industry. We firmly believe that diversity and inclusivity are key drivers of innovation, creativity, and sustainable growth. The theme for this year’s day is "Mobilizing networks for gender equality". This theme was chosen to celebrate the work that has been done, and to consider how we can all work to establish new partnerships and leverage existing networks across the globe in support of efforts towards gender equality. Networks are crucial to push towards greater diversity and inclusion. This is why IMO’s long-running gender programme has supported the establishment of eight Women in Maritime Associations around the world. I am pleased that other networking programmes, such as the one for IMO delegates, have also been established, along with alumni associations for the IMO global training institutes and mentorship programmes. All these mentorship programmes and network associations serve to actively empower women with the requisite skills and confidence to shine in a more inclusive maritime sector. They are powerful tools for nurturing talent and fostering career advancement. Alongside these networks, it is important to maintain a barrier-free working environment, to create truly sustainable systems of gender equality. All stakeholders in public and private sectors need to support women to leap over barriers facing them by means of systems, practices and/or culture. It is incumbent on all who are already leaders in maritime to cultivate the needed corporate culture and attitudes in the workplace, and to provide the necessary training and development opportunities to support these efforts.

The maritime industry has to be inclusive – not just for women, but for everyone. As shipping voyages through a transformation, tackling climate change through decarbonization and undergoing digitalization and automation at a rapid rate – we need the best talent. And that means embracing diversity and ensuring that any barriers to participation are broken down. By investing in the future of women in maritime we unlock a wealth of talent that will drive our industry forward. In maritime and across all sectors, working environments must be inclusive, enabling, and supportive of diverse participation by all, without hindrance. 

I congratulate you on holding this event today, to continue the momentum towards greater diversity in maritime. 

I wish you fruitful discussions. 

Thank you.