World Maritime Day and The Parallel Event are an opportunity for the international maritime community to commemorate efforts to preserve the safety of life at sea and the protection of the marine environment through international mechanisms and instruments. This important event was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, to be held on the fourth Thursday of September each year.
Also, the International Maritime Organization confer the privilege to a country to host the Parallel Event to World Maritime Day. Therefore, in 2019 Colombia will host the Parallel Event, which aims to provide an opportunity for the IMO Member States and the different representatives of the sector to promote work on maritime safety, marine environment protection, and facilitation of international maritime transport, as indisputable elements for the proper development of maritime trade.
Why Colombia?
Colombia, land of dreamers and unforgettable experiences, where the ocean and snow coexist in the same place; where the leafy landscapes and the abundant rivers described by history and the great literary works are filled with sighs at the expense of their visitors. A country where each experience is indescribable and fascinating at the same time. World well-known for its coffee, gold, charming landscapes and its friendly people.
Located in the north of the continent of South America. Its surface covers more than one million square kilometers and a hundred square kilometers of maritime territory, making the country the 26th largest nation in the world. The neighboring countries of Colombia are Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Venezuela.
The country has incredible biodiversity, being home to multiple animal species, such as pink dolphins, hosting more than 130,000 species of different plants thanks to the climates and varied ecosystems. Similarly, Colombian flowers that cause admiration for their quality and variety, bloom throughout the country in all colors.
Ancestral traditions, music, joy, celebrations, contrasts in its architecture, flavors that fascinate any palate and stories that are intertwined in the landscapes, the letters and the streets of the towns and cities are the essences of Colombia.
Why attend?
Colombia will be the epicenter of the main meeting of the international maritime community. The great leaders of the sector will meet to discuss strategic issues and commemorate the importance of international maritime transport, facing the challenges of a constantly changing environment. You cannot miss the opportunity to know the Colombian maritime country: biodiverse, agricultural and cultural that is looking for to meeting you with open ports.
Message from the Secretary-General
As part of the United Nations family, IMO is proud to support the agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals, including the empowerment of all women and girls.
In 2019, under the theme “Empowering Women in the Maritime Community”, IMO will raise awareness of the important contribution that maritime women already make around the world every single day, whilst actively promoting the future development and empowerment of women throughout the maritime sector.
It is clear that improving the participation of women in society leads to better social and economic outcomes. This is also true for the maritime community. For IMO, it is critical that women are provided with equal access to opportunities at all levels of the maritime sector, thereby challenging traditional assumptions and allowing global shipping to draw upon the most talented people.
As ever, this year’s theme will be promoted within the framework of IMO’s core mandate; to advance safe, secure, environmentally sound, efficient and sustainable shipping.
The World Maritime Day Parallel Event provides a platform that brings together important actors and stakeholders in the maritime community to discuss matters of mutual concern. In keeping with this year’s theme, the 2019 Parallel Event will raise a particular spotlight on issues affecting maritime women that are relevant to the wider maritime community.
We are grateful to Colombia, which has been an active and supportive member of IMO since it joined in 1974, for hosting this year’s event. I have no doubt that the 2019 World Maritime Day Parallel Event will make great progress on this challenge and prove to be a successful and enjoyable event for all.
Empowering Women in the Maritime Community
The World Maritime Day 2019 theme will be “Empowering women in the maritime community”.
This year the invitation is to promote gender equality in the maritime community, highlighting the important role of women in a sector that has been dominated by men traditionally, and that requires the commitment of different actors in the creation of capacities and opportunities for women. The above is part of the achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically in Goal 5: “Gender equality”.
