The IMO Council Meeting held between 8 and 12 November decided to establish an International Day for Women in Maritime, which will be celebrated on the 18th of May annually.
With the adoption of this day, the goal is to promote recruitment whilst maintain and enhance the employment of women in the shipping industry.
At the same time, it is moving towards the Sustainable Development Goal #5 (Gender Equality) of the United Nations.
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim commented:
"I welcome the adoption of this proposal by the Council. It not only strengthens efforts to achieve Objective 5 [Gender Equality], but also calls for a barrier-free environment for women to participate fully, safely and without barriers in the activities of the maritime community, including the naval profession and the shipbuilding industry ."