Marina targets gender diversity in maritime industry

Marina targets gender diversity in maritime industry
GENIVI FACTAO February 13, 2019 https://www.manilatimes.net/marina-targets-gender-diversity-in-maritime-...

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has implemented measures to support women seafarers and promote equal opportunities in the maritime industry.

In a recent statement to the press, Marina highlighted and promised more activities that would foster and improve women rights and privileges to show the world that “they too excel in the seafaring industry”.

Based on records, a total of 73,027 women seafarers or almost 10 percent of approximately 1 million Filipino seafarers were issued by Marina with Seafarer’s Identification and Record Book (SIRB), as of December 2018.

Marina has strengthened its efforts to make the gender and development (GAD)-related initiatives in the maritime industry more gender responsive.

Marina’s seminar on GAD discussed gender analysis as an essential tool for gender mainstreaming in relevant programs and policies for the maritime industry.

“Marina, through its local chapter for Women in Maritime has been campaigning for women to develop careers at sea and has been actively involved in the promotion of equal rights for women in the maritime industry,” it said.

With the rising number of women in the maritime work force, Filipinas are taking a giant step to be known in the global seafaring industry.

Camille Abadicio, special projects and communications officer of Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (Amosup) – Women said women seafarers envision that the global maritime officers would recognize their strength in the maritime industry.

“Our aim is to make the Philippines, as the top choice for women seafarers in the international shipping industry,” Abadicio said.

Currently, there are 5,000 women out of the 10,000 members of AMOSUP. Many women seafarers are deployed in cruise lines. One of them is Capt. Jasmin Labarda, the chairman of Amosup Women.

Abadicio said there were also women seafarers in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. She added that empowered Amosup Women wanted to be the source of inspiration for other nationalities.

Meanwhile, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will celebrate the 2019 World Maritime Day with the theme; “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community.”

The IMO will conduct the Women in Maritime Associations (WIMA) Asia conference in March 2019 with the proposed theme; “Empowering Women in Maritime: Charting the Course of Leaders in Asia through Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).”

The Philippines has been elected as a member of the WIMA Asia Governing Council and would also serve as the secretariat.