ABOUT US
WIMA ASIA Officers & Regional Representatives
Merle Jimenez-San Pedro, FRIM
President
President, WIMA Philippines
Dr. Yasmin Mohd Hasni
Vice President
President, WIMA Malaysia
Marine Department of Malaysia
Sonia Bautista Malaluan
Treasurer
Administrator
Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)
Government of the Philippines
Lusitania D.C. Lopes
Communication's Officer
Founder & President of Fiscal Council of WIMA Timor-Leste
Legal, Gender & Planning Adviser
Minister of Transports and Communications, Timor-Leste
Baigalmaa Damba
Communication's Officer
Officer of Mongolia Maritime Administration,
Ministry of Road and Transport Development
Ms. Nguyen Thi Viet Ha
Strategy Development Officer
Official of the International Cooperation and IMO Department of the Vietnam Maritime and Waterway Administration
Prof. Sohyun Jo
Strategy Development Officer
Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology
Aminath Jihaan
Registrar
Certification Officer, Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, Maldives
Ms. Soonthare Pirom
Strategy Development Officer
Environmentalist, Marine Department, Thailand
Adelina Andrade
Registrar
Vice President of APORTIL
President of WIMA Timor-Leste
RESOLUTIONS
The WIMA Asia 2015: A Pledge to Action
The recent spate of accidents involving domestic ferries in Asia has led further attention of various stakeholders to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) focus on domestic ferry safety. In April 2015, the Conference on the Enhancement of Safety of Ships Carrying Passengers on Non-International Voyages was held in Manila, Philippines where Professor Jens Schröder-Hinrichs of WMU participated as a technical expert.
Echoing this effort, the Women in Maritime Asia (WIMA-Asia) Regional Conference on Promoting Women’s Advocacy for Domestic Ferry Safety was held between 21-25 September 2015, hosted by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Women in Maritime Philippines Association (WIMAPHIL), in collaboration with IMO and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea.
Approximately 120 participants gathered for the event. There were 40 foreign delegates from 20 countries in the Asia and Pacific regions, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Fiji, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam as well as IMO and WMU representatives. Among these national representatives, several WMU alumni played key roles in discussions including Assistant Professor Sohyun Jo (M.Sc. 2010 MSEA), Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology, Republic of Korea; Mrs. Mandana Mansoorian (M.Sc. 2010 MSEA), Deputy Permanent Representative of Iran to IMO, Islamic Republic of Iran; Ms. May Soe Aung (M.Sc. 1992 MET(N)), Department of Marine Administration, Myanmar; Mrs. Jabeth Dacanay (M.Sc. 2003 MA), Deputy Executive Director, MARINA, Philippines; and Dr. Maximo Mejia (M.Sc. 1994 MSA(N)), Administrator, MARINA, Philippines. In addition, there were 34 female cadets from three local maritime schools as well as 41 local delegates.
Mr. Nicolaos L. Charalambous, Director of the IMO Technical Cooperation Division (TCD), emphasized the importance of women’s contribution to domestic ferry safety in the region. Mrs. Pamela Tansey, Senior Deputy Director of IMO TCD encouraged the delegates to make use of regional networks such as WIMA-Asia to support their efforts in the maritime industry. Mr. Milhar Fuazudeen, Head, Maritime Training and Human Element of IMO, addressed the relevance of the human element to the agenda and how maritime education and training can advance safety standards of domestic ferries. WMU was represented by Dr. Momoko Kitada, Assistant Professor, who presented a paper on e-learning as a tool to promote inclusive and equitable learning opportunities in order for more women to contribute to domestic ferry safety.
The conference adopted ‘The WIMA Asia 2015: A Pledge to Action’ and ‘Action Plan’ to urge all stakeholders to recognize the shortcomings of present systems that continue to endanger the lives of passengers and crew in domestic voyages.
-WMU, 21 October 2015, https://www.wmu.se/news/wmu-participates-in-imos-wima-asia-regional-conference
FIRST REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IN MARITIME ASIA Dili, Timor Leste November 10, 2017
Recalling
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) strategic and ongoing commitment since 1988 to the integration of women in the maritime sector through the framework of the Organization’s Strategic Plan and its Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP),
Recalling also,
The guiding principles governing the ITCP, allocating priority, inter alia, to empowering women as key maritime resources,
Noting
The Organization’s obligations and responsibilities to implement, through its standard-setting work and its technical cooperation activities, the aims and objectives of the SDGs and its targets, and of the need to mobilize the means required to support with concrete actions the implementation of the 2030 Agenda,
Noting also,
The Organization’s responsibility to implement, through the framework of the ITCP and capacity-building activities, the goals and objectives of SDG 5 “Achieve gender equity and empower all women and girls”,
Recognizing
The importance of enhancing channels of communication and information technology for better cooperation and collaboration at the regional level, with a view to advocating gender equity, improving women’s access to maritime training and technology and promoting their advancement to key decision-making levels in the maritime sector,
Recognizing also,
The importance of SDG 17 to “Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development” in enhancing the IMO partnership framework for strengthening regional institutional capacities,
Acknowledging
The vital contribution of women in leadership positions in the Asian region in enhancing the harmonized management of safe, secure and efficient shipping on clean seas,
Hereby resolve to:
- Invite IMO Member States in the Asian REgion to:
- align their national goals with those of the SDGs, notably SDG 5, and generate a symbiosis with the activities of the ITCP with a view to meeting the challenge of realizing 2030 Agenda;
- work with national agencies responsible for gender matters so that maritime specific SDG targets are integrated into the national planning, monitoring and resource allocation programmes;
- encourage equal access and protection of women at all levels of maritime education, training and research and to strengthen the national mechanisms for the employment of women in the maritime sector;
- facilitate the development and funding of training modalities for women managers, including on-the-job attachments with national maritime administrations, to accelerate the transfer of knowledge and to enable female officials to gain practical experience in technical and maritime administration processes;
- introduce mentorship programmes within the maritime sector, a cost-neutral mechanism for encouraging retention and development of women officials at entry level and middle management;
- nominate women professionals in IMO training events, fellowships and entry to the World Maritime University (WMU), the International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), and the International Maritime Safety, Security and Environment Academy (IMSSEA);
- encourage and support the establishment of a national “Women in Maritime Association” in their respective jurisdiction with a view to making it a partner in achieving SDG targets;
2. ENCOURAGE
- The maritime industry and its stakeholders to develop and strengthen gender-neutral operational frameworks, which support access of women to employment opportunities, career advancement and mobility towards the highest level, based on qualifications and experience.
3. URGE
- The IMO to support the WIMA ASIA “Framework of Strategy” which is attached to this Resolution and to take the necessary action towards actualization of its Work Plan for 2018-2019.
WIMA Asia 2019 Resolution @ Malaysia
ENCOURAGE the maritime industry and its stakeholders to develop and strengthen gender-neutral operational frameworks, which support access of women to employment opportunities, career advancement and mobility towards the highest level, based on qualifications and experience.
ENDEAVOUR as WIMA Asia members to pursue initiatives to put in place national WIMAs which will call attention to the importance of harnessing the potential of women as contributors to the maritime sector in particular and society in general;
PURSUE initiatives that support WIMA Asia climate action and a network platform to be established for WIMA national chapters in a knowledge hub and build support and address gender empowerment
REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON WOMEN IN MARITIME ASIA Busan, Republic of Korea, as of September 11, 2024
WIMA Asia Declaration
Having deliberated the WIMA Asia Regional conference on “Tides of change: Women leading to a sustainable and innovative maritime future” here in Busan, Republic of Korea;
WE, the participants of the IMO regional conference represented by Women Leaders in the Maritime Industry in Asia;
RECOGNISED, the efforts of the IMO in achieving SDG 5 throughout ASIA from here at the Korea Maritime Week events and the WIMA Asia Regional Conference in September 2024;
RECALLING, the Resolution adopted by WIMA Regional conferences held in the past from: “encompassing development of Global strategy for women seafarers in Busan 2013”; to 2015 Manila WIMA Regional conference on domestic ferry safety; to our reinforcement with the Transitioning from MDG Goals to SDG Goals in Timor-Leste in 2017; our efforts in 2019 on Empowering Women in Maritime in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and from our WIMA Asia Resolutions endorsed in the past;
BUILDING on from Busan 2024 conference outputs from navigating the future Green and digital horizons, to empowering women through Digital Transformation and Education, we have also enhanced Leadership and innovation with women pioneers in Maritime in overcoming Barriers and enhancing wellbeing for Women in Maritime in Asia;
ACKNOWLEDGING the support from the Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries of Republic of Korea to the WIMA Asia, together with our sisters from:
- WIMA Korea,
- WIMA Phil,
- My WIMA,
- WIMA-TL,
- Ina WIMA,
and additional representatives from:
- Viet Nam,
- Mongolia,
- Maldives,
- Cambodia,
- Bangladesh,
- Thailand,
- Nepal
Together with all Maritime Administration around Asia;
APPRECIATE contributions made to this conference namely from IMO, WISTA International, MTCC Asia, World Maritime University, IALA VTS Committee,MARINA Philippines, IMO Goodwill Ambassador from Singapore, Ministry of Transportation of Republic of Indonesia, PLOMO Pte. Ltd (Singapore) and Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology;
NOTING that with advancement of technology, more empowerment on soft skills in ensuring that technology needs to keep human centred design, advancing diverse culture of Asian society’s collaboration between human as we embark into the era of artificial intelligence, so that we are not only transformed into digitalisation but transformed our human society’s complex challenges with technological new eyes.
With the accuracy and attention to details, embracing technology and understanding data also empower women our resilience, empowerment is critical to help an adaptable workforce guided by IALA. The importance of learning how to learn for the purpose of lifelong learning, grasping new values in transition and the intersectionality of Gender guided by World Maritime University;
NOTING World Maritime University has 6,090 Alumni from 170 Countries of which 50% is from the ASIA region. Therefore, we urge ASIA Countries to acknowledge the availability of human resource to drive the change in overcoming challenges that ASIA face in the maritime sector and consider promoting women in maritime career.
WE DECLARE to commit and agree:
Work towards enhancing greater awareness of the role of women as a valuable resource to the maritime industry to promote safe, secure, efficient shipping and protect marine environment through decarbonization and digitalization of ships in compliance with the IMO instruments;
Sustain participation of women in maritime especially in the seafaring sector by developing and expanding the career development pathways of women across the many sectors of maritime industry. This includes adopting a gender sensitive language in the promotion of the careers in maritime.
Actively support the development of green maritime corridor led by WIMA ROK with full support from WIMA Asia;
Advocate visibility and transparency in block chain technology by continuous efforts and training via strong collaboration between industry and administration;
Actively support the development of Master Plan for Empowerment of Women in Maritime with the WIMA Asia through Smart C-Women programs of the IMO.
Work with IMO and governments in Asia for developing policies and regulations that create an environment where women and men can work together in overcoming 21st century challenges to create a more diverse, inclusive and safer space for women to unlock their full potentials as catalysts for change in ASIA.
Signed and endorsed by all WIMA members in the presence of the IMO at Korean Maritime Week 2024, Busan, Republic of Korea.