Women in Maritime Day symposium: Safe horizons - women shaping the future of maritime safety

ADDRESS OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AT THE OPENING OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR WOMEN IN MARITIME 2024 SYMPOSIUM: "SAFE HORIZONS: WOMEN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF MARITIME SAFETY”

Delivered by IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez on 17 May 2024

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

Your participation in this IMO Symposium celebrating the International Day for Women in Maritime not only demonstrates your commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, but it also recognizes that you are part of the solution and that change is both necessary and coming. But let us move pass the statements and into actions. 

This International Day has been established as a significant step towards promoting diversity and inclusion in the maritime domain.

Our goal is to recognize and honour the achievements of women; to advocate for equal opportunities and to unlock the full potential that a diverse workplace offers. We aim to highlight and raise awareness of the challenges women face, such as discrimination, disparities, and limitations with regard to career opportunities. 

The theme of the International Day for Women in Maritime this year is: “Safe Horizons: Women Shaping the Future of Maritime Safety”; underscoring the pivotal role women play in enhancing safety measures within our industry.

This is across all areas: from seafaring to engineering, from law to logistics, and beyond. With an increase in trade and the transition towards a greener and more sustainable sector, the opportunities to enhance diversity and inclusion are in front of us. I want you all to look at how you can drive understanding, awareness and change within your own organizations.

You already know that in me you have a champion that will focus on actions, and leading by example.

And IMO has the long-standing Women in Maritime programme, which has and will continue to open doors for women, through its key pillars of “training-visibility-recognition”. 

Many female delegates who come to IMO have benefitted from training and networking opportunities under the programme, and many more are holding high-level positions in their countries. 

IMO has also embedded gender equality into all our long-term thematic projects. 

Although I do not want to be repetitive, I believe that it is important to emphasize this point until it is understood, and the message gets across: we must – and will – do more. By investing in women's education and professional development, we empower women, drive innovation and foster sustainability within the maritime industry, to the benefit of all.

Let us build a future where women not only have a seat at the table, but also lead the way in shaping the maritime industry towards greater safety, sustainability, and innovation. 

And now, it is your turn to be enthusiastic, open minded, and contribute to what I am sure will be an enriching afternoon.

Thank you.

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