ANGOLA HOSTS THE 3RD ICAO GLOBAL AVIATION GENDER SUMMIT

The summit focuses on turning commitments into concrete results and defining measures to achieve progress, in line with the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Strategic Plan for the period 2026–2050.

At the opening session, the Angolan Minister of Transport, Ricardo Viegas d'Abreu, said that equal opportunities are no longer just a social issue to assume a strategic role in economic development and competitiveness.

According to the minister, countries that can attract, train and value the best talent will be better prepared to build more efficient transport systems and more competitive economies.

On the same occasion, the president of the board of directors of the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC), Amélia Domingues Kuvíngua, highlighted that the true strength of aviation lies in people. He argued that a strong sector is not only measured by compliance indicators, but also by its ability to attract, develop and retain talent, regardless of gender.

For his part, ICAO Secretary-General Juan Carlos Salazar praised the contribution of women to the transformation of global aviation. She pointed out that, on a daily basis, women perform decisive functions as pilots, engineers, inspectors, executives and airport managers, contributing decisively to the development of the sector.

Dária Caxinda, outgoing president of the Civil Aviation Students' Association, argued that aviation offers opportunities far beyond the professions of pilot and cabin crew, covering engineering, technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and sustainability, so it is essential to make these careers more visible to young people. 

He also stressed that training must keep up with the rapid evolution of the industry, privileging practical and skills-based learning to prepare professionals able to respond to the challenges of the future.

The programme included a ministerial dialogue dedicated to the challenges of gender disparity and wage inequalities in a sector in the process of digitalisation and sustainable transition.

On the sidelines of the Summit, UNESCO launched in Angola, the "think pink hard" challenge, as part of the UNESCO WomEng Campaign. The initiative brought together more than 100 girls, in an interactive session with the aim of encouraging interest in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

By hosting this summit, Angola reaffirms its commitment to the modernization and credibility of national civil aviation, consolidating the progress achieved in recent years. The meeting also reinforces cooperation with ICAO and the commitment to the training of new generations of professionals, with a focus on promoting female participation in the sector.