ILO study: Women seafarers often face harassment on ships

ILO study: Women seafarers often face harassment on ships    A study released by the U.N. International Labor Organization found women seafarers were more likely to experience discrimination and sexual harassment from their male counterparts on board ships.
   The ILO said the study raises the need for policies to address these discrimination and harassment involving women seafarers.
   During the study, researchers considered regional variations of women at sea such as the fact that in some Scandinavian countries women account for more than 10 percent of the seafaring workforce. Compared to other countries in Europe where women’s role in the maritime industry is “negligible.”
   According to the study, only 7 percent of women seafarers are officers compared to 42 percent of their male counterparts. The report found, however, that the number of female students at the World Maritime University has increased to 21 percent of the university’s enrollment compared to 8 percent in 1995