It’s no secret that the shipping industry has a gender problem. While the aforementioned report in 2021 marked a 45% increase since 2015, the numbers are stark, and the pace of progress, slow. As the sector grapples with labour shortages and growing demands for inclusion, tackling gender imbalance has become a matter of both fairness and long-term sustainability.
The IMO has recognised this imbalance for decades. Its gender work dates back to 1988, when it launched what is now known as the Women in Maritime programme. Since then, the initiative has evolved, but its core aim remains to support equitable participation across the maritime sector regardless of gender.
“Our position is simple: human rights are human rights,” says Mariana Noceti, focal point for the Women in Maritime programme at the IMO. “We support people being able to go to their place of employment and not suffer any sort of harassment, bullying or discrimination, whether based on gender, sexual identity, sexual orientation… or any other characteristic.”
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