Events

The concept of the blue economy is gaining momentum worldwide, presenting complex sustainability challenges that require diverse, innovative and equitable solutions. Central to addressing these challenges is gender equality, which is key to developing effective policies and ensuring successful implementation. Despite recent progress toward gender equality, women remain underrepresented across the blue economy sectors, particularly in leadership and technical positions, thus limiting the potential for diverse and innovative solutions.

To address these issues, the World Maritime University (WMU) will host an international conference from 19-21 May 2025 themed "Advancing the Blue Economy through Gender Equality". The Conference aims to highlight the importance of gender equality as a driver of sustainable growth across maritime, ocean science, fisheries, and other blue economy sectors.

Researchers, government officials, and international organization experts from around the world are welcome to join the conference that will foster collaborative knowledge-sharing to explore strategies, actions, good practices, and present case studies promoting gender equality within the featured topics of the conference.

One-page abstracts in line with the conference themes are welcome from researchers, professionals, and practitioners addressing gender equality in the blue economy at local, national, regional, or global levels. All submissions will undergo peer review, with selected abstracts published in an open-access Book of Abstracts through WMU’s Maritime Commons.
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‍The deadline for abstract submissions is 15 February 2025.

Topics

The conference will feature experts from around the world speaking on the following topics:

• Safety at Sea & Environmental Protection
• Human Rights & Well-being
• Blue Economy

For more information and to register, click here.

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On 8 June each year, we celebrate the ocean, its importance in our lives, and how we can protect it. World Oceans Day helps raise the profile of the ocean and inspire more involvement in helping to conserve this amazing resource we all depend on. A healthy world ocean is critical to our survival. Every year, World Oceans Day provides a unique opportunity to honor, help protect, and conserve the world’s oceans.

To learn more about World Oceans Day, click here.

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In 2010, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), designated 25 June as the International Day of the Seafarer as a way to recognize that almost everything that we use in our daily lives has been directly or indirectly affected by sea transport.

The purpose of the day is to give thanks to seafarers for their contribution to the world economy and the civil society; and for the risks and personal costs they bear while on their jobs.

Background

According to IMO's estimates, ships transport almost 90 percent of the world’s goods trade. Seafarers are not only responsible for the operations of such ships, but are also responsible for the safe and smooth delivery of the cargo.

The day not only acknowledges the invaluable work of seafarers, but also aims to bring global attention to the issues affecting their work and lives, such as piracy. It calls on governments to develop policies that lead to fair treatment of seafarers at ports, and asks private ship companies and owners to provide their employees proper facilities and comforts while they are at sea.

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World Maritime Day 2024

"Our ocean, our obligation, our opportunity" is the International Maritime Organization's 2025 World Maritime Day Theme. The theme showcases the deep interconnection of shipping and the International Maritime Organization in the ocean space, highlighting the importance of collaboration and coordination to ensure the sustainable and safe use of ocean resources.

About World Maritime Day

World Maritime Day was first held in 1978 to mark the 20th anniversary of the IMO Convention’s entry into force. Celebrations are held throughout the world to focus attention on the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment, and to emphasize a particular aspect of IMO's work. World Maritime Day celebrations are usually held during the last week in September.

Since 2005, in addition to the official IMO celebrations held at IMO Headquarters in London, there has been a Parallel Event hosted by a Member State.
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To read more about World Maritime Day 2025, click here.

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As Malmö celebrates 250 years as a port city - together with Copenhagen Malmö Port, World Maritime University, and Union of the Baltic Cities- the City of Malmö warmly welcomes you to join this pivotal conference on Future-proofing Our Port Cities.

Since ancient times, the world's ports have played a crucial role in development, trade, and growth. Today, ports are not only central to 80% of global trade, but they also play a key role in building resilient communities and driving the green transition as foundations for sustainable growth.

At the same time, a changing climate and rising seas present new challenges for port cities worldwide, requiring them to evolve in harmony with the sea.

Through this conference, decision-makers and officials from all levels of government - local, regional and national - along with authorities, businesses, international stakeholders, and academia will jointly explore solutions to develop and future-proof our port cities, thereby enhancing their  attractiveness and sustainable growth, providing security across Sweden and beyond.

Conference Themes
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Theme 1: How we future-proof our port cities – growing cities in response to the sea
Many of our port cities in Sweden and around the world face the challenge of adapting to a rapidly changing climate. The first theme of the conference will address how we adapt our port cities to rising seas.

Theme 2: The role of ports for growth, the green transition, and as critical infrastructure.
The second theme of the conference focuses on the pivotal role of ports in driving innovation, ensuring supply security, supporting growth and, trade, and advancing the green transition. With Malmö as the starting point - celebrating its 250th anniversary as a port city - this theme brings together leading regional and international experts, along with representatives from ports, cities, authorities, and organizations actively working to transform and develop commercial ports into strong hubs for supply, growth, and the green energy transition – now and in the future.

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For more information and to register, click here.

On 24 October, United Nations Day is celebrated around the world. It is an opportunity to reflect on the organization’s work on behalf of humanity, including on urgent challenges such as alleviating poverty and hunger, defending human rights and addressing the need for bold climate action.

UN Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being.

October 24 has been celebrated as United Nations Day since 1948. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly recommended that the day be observed by Member States as a public holiday.

To learn more about United Nations Day, click here.

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Education is a human right, a public good and a public responsibility.

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 24 January as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development.

Without inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children, youth and adults behind.

Today, 244 million children and youth are out of school, and 771 million adults are illiterate. Their right to education is being violated and it is unacceptable. It's time to transform education.

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March 8 is annually recognized as International Women's Day (IWD). It is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. IWD has been observed since the early 1900s and was celebrated for the first time by the United Nations in 1975.

The WMU Women's Association (WMUWA) annually hosts an in-house lecture, based on the current theme, that is open to staff and students at WMU.

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