Supporting seafarers - promoting diversity
No One Left Adrift: Seafarers at the Cross Currents of Commerce, Conflict and Change was the theme of an international conference focused on seafarers’ human rights, safety, and well-being, held in Manila, Philippines (1-3 September).
IMO’s Women in Maritime Programme Lead, Mariana Noceti, participated in the conference to discuss gender equality in the maritime industry. She outlined IMO’s ongoing support for women’s empowerment, stressing the Women in Maritime Survey as a vital tool to track progress. Noceti highlighted the Organization's initiatives, such as gender-specific fellowships, advanced technical training for women from developing countries, and the creation of professional networks, pointing to the eight IMO-established Women in Maritime Associations (WIMAs) as key to building barrier-free environments for women in the sector. She concluded by underscoring that true gender equality benefits both women and men by fostering safe, respectful, and inclusive workplaces where every voice is valued.
The conference highlighted the importance of sustaining efforts to strengthen protection mechanisms for seafarers, recognizing their critical role in global supply chains and the broader economy. Enhancing seafarers’ rights and welfare contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The conference served as a platform for senior government officials, representatives of international organizations, and stakeholders from the shipping industry to discuss the major challenges facing seafarers, their implications for the continued resilience and sustainability of global shipping, and strategies for moving forward.
The conference concluded with adoption of the Manila Declaration on Seafarers' Human Rights, Safety, and Well-being.
The declaration affirmed that human rights apply to all seafarers, regardless of nationality, vessel, or jurisdiction. It called for greater cooperation among governments, shipowners, and international organizations to ensure seafarer welfare.
