UNITED NATIONS, June 8 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday urged the international community to promote gender equality and the rights of women and girls as a crucial contribution to meeting ocean challenges.
In his message on World Oceans Day, the UN chief said that confronting gender inequality is essential to achieving the ocean-related goal and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
According to Guterres, the effects of pollution and climate change on the oceans have a disproportionate impact on women. Women represent half the work force engaged in the catching and harvesting of wild and farmed fish, yet are paid substantially less than men.
Women are also often segregated into low-skilled and unrecognized labor, such as fish processing, and are denied a decision-making role, he said, adding that similar treatment occurs in related sectors such as shipping, coastal tourism and marine science, where the voices of women are frequently not heard.
"For too long, women have been unable to share equally in ocean-supplied benefits," said Guterres.
"We must ensure an end to unsafe work conditions and guarantee that women have an equal role in managing ocean-related activities," he added.
Designated by the UN, the World Oceans Day takes place every June 8, and this year's observance highlighted the gender dimensions of people's relationship with the ocean.
