Global Aviation Summit Calls for Urgency on Gender Equality

The ICAO Global Aviation Gender Summit in Madrid, Spain, resulted in a “Call to Action” that comprises several clear and actionable steps and strategies towards resolving the aviation sector’s very significant gender equality challenges. The Call to Action was presented by the President of the ICAO Council, Salvatore Sciacchitano.

“Advancing gender equality in aviation is not only the right thing to do, but a necessary transformation for the future of our sector,” remarked Council President Sciacchitano. “The Call to Action this event has resulted in accordingly conveys a strong message of determination and urgency and outlines an array of strategic action points.”

Priorities included the development of better data, which was recognized as being key to strengthening strategic foresight to support the identification of trends, anticipated needs, and planning, and accordingly to informed policy and decision making.

Participants also recognized the importance of mainstreaming gender equality, by ensuring that it informs all aviation policies and planning and is prioritized in budget plans and investments. On this point, the need for polices and strategies to reflect core principles of decent work and working environments that are conducive to women’s career and leadership development was underscored.

The upscaling and driving of increased representation of diverse talents into executive, management, and board roles was also acknowledged as crucial, with the setting of specific targets around these objectives being critical to their achievement.

Finally, participants also recognized the crucial importance of promoting access to STEM education and motivating younger generations toward careers as skilled aviation professionals. Concerted action and collaboration with other partners and sectors is critical here as well, including with respect to role models, ambassadors, and mentorship programmes.

In addition to the Call to Action, announcements made throughout the Summit will also help drive progress towards gender equality in the aviation: namely a global ambassadors programme announced and funded by the United Kingdom; and an intent to intensify collaboration between ICAO and EUROCONTROL in support of the Next Generation of Aviation Professionals Programme.

Convened by ICAO in partnership with the European Commission, the International Labour Organization, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), and the International Transport Forum (ITF) at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the event was attended by over 650 participants representing governments, business, and non-governmental organizations, with a further 1,500 viewers remotely attending through ICAO TV.

“I am fully convinced that if we don’t give up, if we keep pushing forward, we can transform aviation into a beacon of inclusivity, and a global industry of diversity and equality,” Sciacchitano concluded.