On Thursday, May 24, 2018, One Earth Future (OEF), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) held a joint event on Women, Peace and Maritime Security: Equal Opportunities in Maritime Security. Hosted in London at the IMO, the panel discussion identified challenges to and opportunities for women’s full and meaningful participation in the maritime domain and reasons why it is important for more women to be involved. It illuminated possible synergies with and lessons learned from the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) community of practice. OEF’s goal was to start the conversation to identify potential opportunities for collaboration and overlap between WPS and the broader maritime space.
Opening and closing remarks were delivered by Chris Trelawny, special advisor to the secretary-general on maritime security and facilitation at the IMO. OEF researcher Maisie Pigeon and UNODC programme officer Siri Bjune provided additional remarks to help frame and focus the conversation.
The panel was moderated by Mary Harper, Africa editor at the BBC and author of Getting Somalia Wrong: Faith, War and Hope in a Shattered State. Panelists included
- John Steed, UNODC Maritime Crime Programme
- Larry Sampler, president, OEF
- Azara Al-Hassan Prempeh, alternate permanent representative of Ghana to the IMO
- Helen Buni, focal point for women in maritime, IMO
- Sue Terpilowski, president, Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA)
As a program of One Earth Future, Our Secure Future was thrilled to support the IMO and the UNODC in carrying out this event. We look forward to continuing this conversation over the months and years ahead.
