3RD GLOBAL SUMMIT ON GENDER IN AVIATION HIGHLIGHTS THE ESSENTIAL ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE FUTURE OF THE AVIATION SECTOR

The Summit was attended by representatives of the Government, the diplomatic corps accredited in Angola, Civil Aviation Authorities, Airlines, Airport Operators, Universities and other entities linked to the aviation sector, as well as representatives of important International Organizations, including UN Women, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the United Nations Education Organization.  Science and Culture (UNESCO).

Seven thematic panels were under debate during the three days of the Summit: "From Politics to Progress" debated public policies, "The Power of Numbers" defended more disaggregated data, "Rewriting the Career Trajectory" was the panel that brought the theme of training and AI, while "Voices that Elevate" showed the impact of having more female references. "Creating Workplaces Where Women Thrive" has put the fight against harassment and flexibility on the table.

"Transforming Resolutions into Results" demanded evidence and monitoring, and to close the "Stronger Together" panel concluded that the future of aviation is built in a network.

On the sidelines of the Summit, the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC), represented by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Amélia Domingues Kuvíngua, signed two Memoranda of Cooperation aimed at strengthening international cooperation and capacity development in the civil aviation sector.

A Memorandum was signed with the Civil Aviation Authority of South Africa (SACAA), represented by its Director General, Poppy Khosa, with the aim of promoting technical cooperation and mutual assistance in strategic areas, such as the supervision of operational safety, the strengthening of the regulatory framework, the training of human resources and other initiatives of common interest.

Another Memorandum signed with AVIASION Global Aviation Solutions, from the Republic of Turkey, represented by its Director General, Furkan Özdemir, whose agreement aims to strengthen the technical and institutional partnership between the two entities, with a special focus on specialized training, knowledge transfer and skills development for the civil aviation sector.

The closing session of the 3rd Global Summit on Gender in Aviation was chaired on Thursday, July 23, by the Secretary of State for the Civil, Maritime and Port Aviation Sectors, Adilson Catala, representing the Minister of Transport, Ricardo Viegas D'Abreu, marking the end of three days of intense debates and sharing of experiences in favor of the promotion of gender equality in the civil aviation sector.

The Secretary of State said that the true legacy of the Summit will depend on the ability to turn dialogue into decisions and commitments into concrete results. He stressed that promoting equal opportunities in aviation is a strategic decision to make the sector more competitive, innovative and sustainable. He also argued that the collective responsibility is to ensure that talent is never limited by origin, context or gender, recalling the motto of the Summit: "aviation has no gender. He has talent". He reiterated Angola's commitment to bringing more young people closer to the aviation professions and to promoting female role models.

For his part, ICAO Secretary-General Juan Carlos Salazar stressed that the future of aviation depends on nurturing the potential of the talents that will shape the sector, warning that without reliable data it is not possible to identify barriers, measure successes or ensure accountability. He announced that ICAO will release the Landmark Study on Women in Aviation, the Toolkit to Mainstream Women's Empowerment in Aviation, and an online learning course to support States and organizations in implementing inclusive policies.

Salazar also stressed the need to strengthen mentoring networks and prepare the sector for the growing demand for pilots, engineers, technicians and leaders in the coming decades.

ICAO reaffirmed its readiness to continue to support States with practical tools that translate ambition into progress.

For Angola, hosting the Summit reinforced its position as a reference in Africa in the promotion of equity in aviation, while opening new opportunities for cooperation, capacity building and international visibility for national aviation.