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Gender equality

“Women hold up half the sky – get used to it.” That message, painted on a sign at a demonstration, tells only half the story. In many ways, women do more than their share: caring for the next generation and elderly parents, household duties, and contributing economically. Women are more than equal in the responsibilities they assume. This must be matched with political, economic and social equality.

8 March - Women’s struggles need to be more bold and radical than ever

07 March 2019

Women’s Day is not a moment to celebrate the feminine. It is a day for political upheaval. Only by placing women’s struggles at the heart of labour action can we achieve the meaningful progress which generations of women have fought for. Read the PSI statement here.

This International Women’s Day, let’s call time on gender-based violence

07 March 2019

Gender-based violence blights the lives of millions of women. It excludes women from the world of work and often stigmatises them within their communities. Read the ITUC statement here.

PSI Interamerica Regional Conference: The Future of Work and Ending Violence and Harassment in Public Services

13 December 2018

More than 90 trade unionists from Latin America, Canada and the Caribbean met to discuss issues including challenges for trade unions and workers in ongoing debates on the future of work, the impact of technology on work and the ILO Convention on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work. A strong gender analysis was integrated into every one of these topics.

Advancing Women's Human Rights through Gender Responsive Public Services

12 December 2018

This Expert paper by PSI proposes that the UNCSW adopt the framework of Gender Responsive Quality Public Services (GRQPS) and in doing so address the primary barriers to the delivery of GRQPS and the enablers of GRQPS and women’s human rights, including labour rights of those workers who are strategic in front line-public services.

70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

10 December 2018

Today, 10 December, we celebrate International Human Rights Day and the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

For Decent Care Work: Time to Act

07 December 2018

“Care work, both paid and unpaid, is at the heart of humanity and our societies.” From cradle to grave, as children, adults and elders, directly or indirectly, care work ensures our self-development and the reproduction of social life. More than three quarters of care givers are women and girls. And most of these provide unpaid care work in their families. This contributes significantly to the reinforcing of gender inequality.

PSI becomes member of EPIC

05 December 2018

Since November this year, PSI has become a member of the Equal Pay International Coalition-EPIC. Among the 15 members, PSI is the second global union federation taking action as a member of EPIC to reduce the gender pay gap.

Spotlight Report: "Reclaiming Policies for the Public"

07 July 2017

Report by the Civil Society Reflection Group on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Global Unions Statement: Support the inclusion and retention of the full and substantive role of the ILO in the UNCSW61 Agreed Conclusions

22 March 2017

Member states at the annual Sessions of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW) are currently negotiating ‘Agreed Conclusions’ on this year’s priority theme: ‘Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work’.

Posters: Int'l Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

17 November 2016

Trade unions are struggling to end violence at the workplace and in society. In all countries, we need a strong commitment from governments to address the deeply rooted causes of violence against women: inequality and discrimination. Download PSI's posters for International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Policy brief EB-148 : Gender Equality, Combating Racism and Xenophobia, and LGBTI Workers

04 October 2016

This policy brief on Gender Equality, Combating Racism and Xenophobia, and LGBTI Workers was produced for the PSI Executive Board EB-148 held at the ILO in Geneva (Switzerland) on 19-20 May 2016. Its objective is to inform EB-148 of activities in gender equality and LGBTI issues since EB-147, that took place in Geneva (Switzerland) in May 2015, and to inform EB-148 of proposed actions for 2016. The brief is available in English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish and Japanese.

Gender and Tax Justice Resources

07 September 2016

These presentations and concept note were produced for PSI's global forum "No Gender Justice Without Tax Justice" held in London, 30 June-1 July 2016.

Arab women & the right to peace

18 March 2016
Arab women

On 18 March, during the 60th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, PSI & WILF/MADRE/AEDIDH/ITUC will organise a trade union parallel event on: Arab Women and the human rights to peace. It will provide an opportunity for trade union and social movement leaders from Arab countries to give their views on peace as a human right.

PSI Report: Gender equality and water

17 March 2016

PSI submitted case studies from India, Kenya, Argentina and Ecuador on the gender implications of the human right to water and sanitation for the UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. The studies touch on gender implications of legislation, public finance, participatory decision-making, and monitoring.

Action guide for international women's day campaign - 8 March 2016

26 February 2016

In 2015, the World Women's Committee (WOC) decided to make Equal Pay the main theme of its celebration of International Women's Day in 2016. PSI has already achieved a lot on this issue, as is widely recognised. It took the lead in calling on its affiliates, the global union federations, the ILO, governments and women's organisations to defend economic rights. PSI is now internationally recognised as a union that defends women's rights at work and in society in general.

Joint statement to the UNCSW60

04 November 2015

Joint statement submitted by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Education International (EI), Public Services International (PSI) and International Transport Federation (ITF), civil society organisations with consultative status at the Economic and Social Council to the upcoming UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW60).

Presentations and report from the Women's seminar at AFRECON

01 October 2015

On Wednesday 22nd September 2015, the AFRECON 2015 Women’s meeting was held to discuss priority campaigns on gender equality and the way forward.

Poster: We won't wait another 20 years!

22 September 2015
PSI poster - We won't wait another 20 years

Posters produced for the Women's seminar meeting prior to the 12th Regional Conference for Africa and Arab countries.

WOC 2015 Presentations

25 June 2015

PSI's World Women's Committee (WOC) met on 25-26 May 2015 in Geneva. A varied agenda included violence against women, precarious work, labour migration, peace and freedom, gender equality and gender strategy for the post-2015 development agenda.

The Gender pay gap in public services

26 May 2014

This report examines the gender pay gap, the difference between what men and women earn, in public services in Europe. Consisting of two main sections, the report examines how unions have identified and tackled the problem of the gender pay gap on the basis of a survey circulated by EPSU.

What Women Want: CPSU Australia 2013-2014 survey

24 March 2014
What Women Want

PSI affiliate in Australia, Community & Public Sector Union (CPSU), launched, for the eighth year in a row, a survey on “What Women Want” asking women to give a detailed picture of their working lives. This is Australia’s largest survey on working women, with over 11 200 women participating.

Statement: Putting women’s rights to decent work, quality education and quality public services at the heart of the post-2015 Agenda

27 February 2014

Statement submitted to the UNCSW58 by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Education International (EI) and Public Services International (PSI), and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), civil society organisations with consultative status at the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Caribbean Sub-regional Women’s Advisory Committee meeting - SUBWOC (Jamaica)

06 February 2017

The Sub-regional Women’s Advisory Committee (SUBWOC) meets on the day preceding the Sub-regional Advisory Committee (SUBRAC) meeting and comprises women representatives attending that meeting. The chair is Sis Jillian Bartlett (NUGFW TT), the Caribbean Women’s Titular. The SUBWOC meets annually. In accordance with PSI’s constitution, the number of representatives attending the SUBWOC meeting must be at least 50% of the number of representatives attending the SUBRAC meeting.

Women Power Unions: Global Trade Union UNCSW Preparatory meeting (New York)

06 December 2016

Trade union representatives to attend Global Union/FES meeting in New York to develop strategy for upcoming UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW61), the principal global intergovernmental body dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Forum: No Gender Justice without Tax Justice

15 June 2016

PSI and FES are organising a tax and gender forum in London, 30 June - 1 July 2016 on the theme of “No gender justice without tax justice”.

UNCSW60: Commission on the Status of Women

13 March 2016
Photo: CTF - FCE/Flickr

The sixtieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 14 to 24 March 2016.

2016 Caribbean SUBWOC meeting

15 February 2016
2015 SUBWOC

The Sub-regional Women’s Advisory Committee (SUBWOC) meets on the day preceding the Sub-regional Advisory Committee (SUBRAC) meeting and comprises the women representatives attending that meeting. The chair is Sis Jillian Bartlett, the Caribbean Women’s Titular. The SUBWOC meets annually. In accordance with PSI’s constitution, the number of representatives attending the SUBWOC meeting must be at least 50% of the number of representatives attending the SUBRAC meeting.

CSW59: Commission on the Status of Women

10 December 2014

The 59th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW59) will take place at the UN Headquarters, in New York, from 9th to 20th March 2015.

Bachelet calls on PSI to fight for an ILO resolution on the elimination of violence against women at work

01 November 2014
Mujeres de la ISP el “Encuentro Internacional sobre Violencia de Género en los lugares de trabajo y el empleo público”

Before an audience of more than 140 women members of the PSI, the President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, called on the organisation to continue fighting for approval of an ILO resolution on the elimination of violence against women at the workplace and in public employment.

PSI World Women’s Committee WOC-2014

23 June 2014

Please note that the documents for these meetings are available to members of the World Women's Committee only. To view them you will need to login with the username and password provided by PSI.

 

 

58th UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW)

10 March 2014

Priority theme:
Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls.

Review theme:
Access and participation of women and girls to education, training, science and technology, including for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work (agreed conclusions from the fifty-fifth session).

PSI Sub‐regional Women’s Advisory Committee (SUBWOC) for the Caribbean

07 March 2014

Chair: Sis Jillian Bartlett (NUGW-TT)

The SUBWOC deliberates on a wide range of issues and, in general advises and makes recommendations on:

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

25 November 2013

PSI is calling on all its affiliate members, men and women, to make a pledge to end violence against women and girls, at each of their workplaces around the globe. Violence against women is an age-old problem – it is time to end it now.

Asia-Pacific Regional Women's Committee

03 April 2013
PSI Asia Pacific WOC members with Rosa Pavanelli

PSI's Asia Pacific Women's Committee members meet in Singapore to determine the priorities for the coming year.