The International Maritime Organization's (IMO) governing body, the IMO Council, approved the Women's International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA International) application for consultative status on July 5, 2018.
"Consultative status gives us the opportunity to promote diversity, inclusion and women's empowerment, which are our main aims," said WISTA International President Despina Panayiotou Theodosiou. "We can now formally contribute to the discussion for increasing capacity in our industry, a critical component of which is promoting women in the industry, both shore side and shipboard. WISTA's efforts support the overarching principles in IMO's Strategic Plan, especially the promotion of Gender Equality and the empowerment of women."
WISTA International has been a voice for female executives in the maritime industry since 1974. Today, WISTA International has more than 3,000 members worldwide representing 44 National WISTA Associations. WISTA International has participated in a number of global initiatives aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion in the shipping industry. WISTA International partners with organizations around the world including
the European Commission, International Chamber of Shipping, InterManager, INTERTANKO, World Maritime University, ISWAN, the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, and YoungShip to increase women's participation in the maritime industry in coordination with the UN's sustainable Development Goal 5, Achieve Gender Equality and Empowerment for all Women and Girls.