Displaying items by tag: Women representation

8th March 2022

More Women Active in ESPO Meetings in 2021 for Second Year in a Row

Women participating in ESPO Committees meetings increases

For the second year in a row, the overall number of women participating in the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Committees meetings has increased.

In 2021, taking all technical committees together, women represented 38,87% of the port professionals who attended ESPO meetings. This represents a 3% increase compared to the numbers in 2020. Ever since ESPO started monitoring the gender balance of its internal meetings in 2018, that number has been steadily increasing.

A closer look into the results of the different technical committees reveals that a majority of ESPO committees have seen an increase in the share of women attending the meetings in 2021. The Blue Growth Network reports the best result with 64,71% of women attending its meetings, an increase of 6% compared to 2020. The Sustainable Development Committee and the Cruise and Ferry Port Network both had an almost equal representation of men and women at their meetings, a stable trend in both committees compared to 2020. Even if we see a slight decrease compared to the previous year, 4 participants out of 10 in the Port Governance and Management Committee in 2021 were women.

Two Committees showcase the biggest increase, with 12% more women taking part in the meetings of the Intermodal, Logistics & Industry Committee and the Economic Analysis and Statistics Committee (in total 36% and 37%, respectively). The Energy Network, the General Assembly, and the Executive Committee, gathered on average one third of women at their meetings (34%, 33% and 31%, respectively). The Trade Facilitation, Customs and Security, and Marine Affairs Committees show the lowest percentage of women attendees last year with 19%.

“It is very encouraging to see that also in a challenging year where many port professionals had to work from home, combining more than ever work with family, the female attendance to ESPO meetings has grown. Referring to this year’s theme for the International Women’s Day, I invite every port in Europe to break the bias that still might exist for recruiting women for certain functions in the port. Job offers and profiles for jobs in the port must attract women to the port and not discourage them,” says ESPO’s Chair Annaleena Mäkilä.

Since 2018, ESPO has been monitoring the gender balance through the effective attendance of port professionals to the different meetings of the organisation. The results of this monitoring are published each year on the occasion of the International Women’s Day. ESPO is also one of the founding members of the European Commission’s initiative “Women in Transport – EU Platform for change”, launched in 2017.

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About the Loughs Agency

The Loughs Agency is a governmental body established under the 1998 Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland. The Agency's goal is to provide sustainable social, economic, and environmental benefits by effectively conserving, managing, promoting, and developing the fisheries and marine resources of the Foyle and Carlingford areas.

The Agency's governing legislation confers several specific functions, including the promotion of development of Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough for commercial and recreational purposes in respect of marine, fishery, and aquaculture matters. Moreover, the Agency is responsible for managing, conserving, protecting, improving, and developing the inland fisheries of the Foyle and Carlingford areas. Additionally, the Agency has the task of developing and licensing aquaculture, as well as the development of marine tourism.

The Loughs Agency reports to the North South Ministerial Council and its government Sponsor Departments, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland, and the Department of the Environment, Climate, and Communications (DECC) in Ireland. The Departments fund the Agency on an equal basis.

The Loughs Agency's focus on sustainable development is expected to have a positive impact on the economy, environment, and local communities in the Foyle and Carlingford areas. The Agency's efforts to conserve and enhance the region's marine resources, including fisheries and aquaculture, are expected to benefit local communities, promote tourism, and contribute to economic growth.

In conclusion, the Loughs Agency plays a vital role in promoting the sustainable social, economic, and environmental development of the Foyle and Carlingford areas. Its work on marine conservation and development is crucial in ensuring the long-term viability of the region's natural resources and in promoting sustainable economic growth.