WISTA-NIG Decries Gender Discrimination Despite IMO Recommendations
... “To show seriousness, there is need for more legislation and regulations; if possible, institutionalisation of those measures that eliminate gender discrimination in all ramifications should be made" - Ezeoke
By: Bisi Akingbade
The WISTA Nigeria has disclosed the discrimination of female seafarers in the shipping sectors against all recommendations made by International Maritime Organisation, IMO, on the working conditions of female seafarers.
The President, WISTA- Nigeria, Mrs Eunice Ezeoke, made this known in her statement in commemoration of this year’s Women International Day across the world
She recalled that recommendations were made by the International Maritime Organisation during a Joint ILO/IMO Tripartite Working Group (JTWG) meeting at the IMO headquarters in London from Feb. 27 to 29.
The recommendations which included amendments to the ILO Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, MLC 2006, aligning it with the ILO Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 which also includes mandatory IMO training for seafarers, and extra guidance for shipowners.
She said despite these laudable recommendations by the IMO, they could not address the issue of underemployment of female Seafarers in the country.
Ezeoke alleged that female seafarers were discriminated against in getting job opportunities, access to finance for educational development in the field, discriminated in the opportunities to foreign vessel engagements occasioned by challenges with getting visas.
“It appears government and maritime agencies seem to be paying only lip service to the issue of inclusivity in the industry.
“To show seriousness, there is need for more legislation and regulations; if possible, institutionalisation of those measures that eliminate gender discrimination in all ramifications should be made.
“Personally, it goes beyond setting aside one day in a year, but changing how we raise our male and female children, how we run the home, schools and the work environment.
“It starts from the microcosm of the family units to the macrocosm of the society and the workplace; we have not done much to improve the situation,” she said.
She urged the relevant government ministries/agencies, ship owners and all relevant stakeholders to address these issues.
However, she celebrated the strength and endurance of women in all spheres of life and most especially maritime as the world marked the International Women’s Day
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