Empowering Women in the Maritime Community - Conference and Call for Papers

To address the gender gap in the maritime, ports, fishing and related industries, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced that the World Maritime Day theme for 2019 is “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community”. Since being founded in 1983 under the auspices of the IMO, the World Maritime University (WMU), has been committed to the advancement of women in the maritime. In 2019, WMU will host its 3rd International Women’s Conference from 4-5 April on the theme “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community”.

The aim of the Conference is to identify opportunities to encourage women to pursue careers in the maritime and ocean sectors, and to call for action from maritime and other stakeholders in support of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goal 5 related to gender equality, as a cross-cutting theme.

Today, the maritime and related industries continue to be one of the most male dominated sectors, including seafarers, fishermen, port operators, surveyors, port state control officers, and government officials. The under-representation of women in the maritime industry has not significantly changed over the past 25 years. In 1992, the number of women seafarers was estimated as 1-2% of the total seafaring workforce, while the latest 2015 manpower report from BIMCO/ICS indicates that only 1% of seafarers are women. In seafood harvesting, the numbers and employment conditions of women are usually well behind that of men.

Indeed, stereotyping and discrimination against maritime women persist. They affect working conditions, equal access to education and training as well as career opportunities. Gender specific data is scarce. Issues such as women's health gain little attention and good practices regarding the empowerment of women remain barely visible.

The Conference Organizing Committee invites the submission of original research abstracts for consideration to present a paper at the conference. All submissions must be original articles of high quality. Following a peer review, selected papers will be published in the Special Issue of the WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs to mark this very special occasion.

Forward-thinking papers that seek to advance achievement of the SDGs are welcome. Topics focused on SDG 5 and gender equality in maritime and related ocean fields are of particular relevance. Submissions are also welcome with a focus on additional SDGs, such as, but not limited to: Goal 1 (end of poverty), Goal 4 (quality education), Goal 7 (affordable and clean energy), Goal 8 (decent work), Goal 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), Goal 12 (responsible consumption and production), Goal 13 (climate action), Goal 14 (life below water), Goal 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions), and Goal 17 (partnerships for the goals).

Recognizing that all the goals are interrelated and indivisible, through this event WMU will contribute directly and tangibly to the implementation of the following targets within Goal 5:

Target 5.1: End Discrimination Against Women and Girls

End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.

Target 5.2: End All Violence Against and Exploitation of Women and Girls

Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.

Target 5.5: Ensure Full Participation in Leadership and Decision-Making

Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

Target 5.A: Equal Rights to Economic Resources, Property Ownership and Financial Services

Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws.

Target 5.B: Promote Empowerment of Women through Technology

Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.

Target 5.C: Adopt and Strengthen Policies and Enforceable Legislation for Gender Equality

Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.

Forward-thinking papers that seek to advance achievement of the SDGs are welcome. Topics focused on SDG 5 and gender equality in maritime and related ocean fields are of particular relevance. Submissions are also welcome with a focus on additional SDGs, such as, but not limited to: Goal 1 (end of poverty), Goal 4 (quality education), Goal 7 (affordable and clean energy), Goal 8 (decent work), Goal 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), Goal 12 (responsible consumption and production), Goal 13 (climate action), Goal 14 (life below water), Goal 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions), and Goal 17 (partnerships for the goals).

Keywords

UN SDG 5, maritime and ocean communities, gender equality, empowerment, leadership, partnership

Submission

Abstract submissions (MS Word format) are due by 30 November 2018 to abstracts@wmu.se.

Key dates

Abstract submission (MS Word format) deadline to abstracts@wmu.se: 30 November 2018

Notification of acceptance/reject for conference paper presentation: 15 December 2018

Full paper submission deadline (click here for submission details): 28 February 2019

Conference paper presentation in Malmö, Sweden: 4-5 April 2019

Notification of acceptance/reject for publication: 15 April 2019

Targeted publication period: End of 2019

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Momoko Kitada (Lead Editor), Associate Professor, World Maritime University

Dr. Irini Papanicolopulu (Guest Editor), Associate Professor, University of Milano-Bicocca

Dr. Laura Carballo Piñeiro, Professor, World Maritime University

Dr. Maximo Q. Mejia Jr., Professor, World Maritime University

Dr. Murray Rudd, Professor, World Maritime University

Dr. Raphael Baumler, Associate Professor, World Maritime University

Dr. Satya Sahoo, Assistant Professor, World Maritime University

Dr. Monica Canepa, Research Associate, World Maritime University

For more information and to register, click here.