During the 1948 Geneva Convention, through an agreement adopted on March 6, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) was established.

Ten years later, once the required number of member States had been reached, on March 17, 1958, the Convention formally entered into force. This allowed the IMO to officially begin its activities in January 1959, structuring itself with main bodies such as the Assembly, the Council, and the Maritime Safety Committee, in addition to a Secretariat.

Over time, and in response to new demands from the maritime sector, amendments were made that expanded its membership, competencies, and structure, incorporating new committees (legal, marine environment, technical cooperation, and facilitation), thereby strengthening its representative character. Today, this consolidates it as the key international body in the technical regulation of maritime transport at the global level.

The IMO acts as a forum for intergovernmental cooperation focused on international maritime transport. Its main functions include the development of technical standards and conventions to improve maritime safety, navigation efficiency, and the protection of the marine environment; facilitating the exchange of information; promoting technical cooperation among States; and analyzing restrictive or discriminatory practices in maritime trade, among other related matters.

For Red MAMLa, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is our parent organization, as it was born from the support and vision of the IMO through the “Women in Maritime” Programme, which lays the foundation for “promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women in the maritime sector.”