Gbemisola Saraki, Minister of State for Transportation will on Thursday, July 30, 2020 flag off a one day virtual conference on ‘Enforcing Policies and Legal Instruments against Sexual Harassment & Exploitation in the Maritime Industry’.
The conference being organised by Women in Maritime Journalism (WIMAJ) will hold on zoom conference in commemoration with the 2020 Seafarers Day.
According to an official statement signed by Ezinne Azunna, chairperson WIMAJ, the virtual conversation will serve as a wakeup call for critical stakeholders/organisations in the industry to declare their position against the criminal act of sexual violence and to ensure that perpetrator(s) of such act are brought to book.
“The objective of the virtual conference is to provide a platform for broad- based discussion on issues of sexual harassment and exploitation in the industry, especially with regards to female seafarers, and to proffer solutions that would address the problem and lessen the sufferings of victims”, Azunna said in the statement.
Speakers include Hadiza Bala Usman- managing director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Bashir Jamoh –director general of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Margret Orakwusi -chairperson, Shipowners Forum, Nigeria, Kunle Folarin- chairman, Seafarers Welfare Board Nigeria and Koni Duniya, ex Seafarer & Voyage Management Advisor, Nigerian LNG among others.
According to Azunna, participation at the virtual conference is open to all in the public sector, critical stakeholders from the private sector- ship-owners, legal practitioners, master mariners, seafarers- to mention a few. Industry operators can join the Zoom conference using the Meeting ID: 858 1745 5956 and 714171 as Passcode.
