Gender equality is IMO theme for Day of the Seafarer 2019

Gender equality is IMO theme for Day of the Seafarer 2019
RAFFY AYENG May 01, 2019 https://www.manilatimes.net/gender-equality-is-imo-theme-for-day-of-the-...

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has chosen gender equality as its main campaign theme to celebrate the Day of the Seafarer on June 25.

“Throughout 2019 there will be a strong emphasis throughout the maritime world on the importance and value of women within the professional ranks,” an IMO statement reads.

It also emphasized that much of this campaign is being driven by the World Maritime Day theme which is empowering women in the maritime community). IMO added that the theme has a very strong and far-reaching resonance.

“It provides an opportunity to highlight opportunities for women, as well as the contributions they are already making in a wide range of maritime careers and professions, but the focus will be very firmly on one aspect of that community — seafarers,” IMO said.

The 2019 campaign hashtag is#IAmOnBoard and can be used by anyone engaging in the campaign, male or female, to show their solidarity for gender equality in seafaring.

IMO further added that they will create downloadable cards bearing the hashtag, the SDG 5 icon and the Day of the Seafarer logo and will invite all campaign supporters to take selfies or other photographs which include the card to be posted on social media with the hashtag.

As in previous years, the campaign will be centered on social media and all IMO’s social media platforms are likely to feature, while Twitter, Facebook and Instagram will account for most activity.

“We will invite campaign participants to think about what they would do if they were able to make just one change to improve diversity in seafaring and we will develop an interactive on-line space in which participants’ responses can be submitted and captured,” the IMO statement relayed to its member countries.

June 25 is the Day of the Seafarer, an annual international event coordinated by the IMO.

This year, the Day will honor the unique contribution made by seafarers from all over the world to international seaborne trade, the world economy and civil society as a whole, with the theme ‘Seafarers Matter.’

The day recognizes the unique and vital role of seafarers in the global community, and the United Nations identify the Day of the Seafarer as an observance day.

The Day of the Seafarer was established in 2010 by a resolution adopted at a diplomatic conference in Manila.

The revised International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), the original STCW was to ensure an international standard of competency and welfare for seafarers, for their safety, and the revision was to ensure the upholding of the Day of the Seafarer as part of this.

The convention’s aim was to recognize the contribution by seafarers to society and economy globally.

The resolution encourages governments, shipping firms, companies associated with sea trade and others, to promote and uphold sea trade and seafarers through the Day of the Seafarer.