27 February, 2025The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, turning 30 this year, has been key in driving a new women’s rights and a gender equality agenda. However, the UN highlights that despite significant strides, progress on gender equality, the rights and empowerment of all women and girls remain slow.
As we mark the anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration, women's rights worldwide are under unprecedented attacks, fuelled by the rise of hatred and masculinist rhetoric, often endorsed by governments. This occasion is unfolding against the backdrop of escalating insecurity and multiple crises, which have led to a staggering 50 per cent increase in the number of women and girls experiencing the harsh realities of armed conflict over the past decade.
Says IndustriALL general secretary Atle Høie:
“Defending gender equality and women's rights must be more than ever at the heart of our mission to secure social justice, equality and equity, with a decent standard of living for all.”
International Women’s Day should be the rallying cry to take action in the world of work and in our unions in:
- Advancing women’s rights: IndustriALL is launching its new training modules for trade unions on Pay Equity. According to the ILO, despite the widespread ratification of ILO Conventions 100 and 111, the gender pay gap represents one of today’s greatest social injustices.
- Promoting gender equality and ending GBVH, misogyny and sexism: there will be no equality if there is violence against women. We invite you to look at the new IndustriALL toolkit on levering human rights due diligence to end GBVH in supply chains. IndustriALL and its affiliates have adopted a #NOExcuse policy, calling for a change in culture and zero tolerance to all forms of GBVH, sexism and misogyny in the world of work. Let’s continue to campaign and reiterate that there is no excuse for violence against women and girls! Let’s call on governments to ratify ILO Convention 190 to end violence and harassment in the world of work. Let’s bargain with companies to implement the provisions of this Convention in our workplaces.
- Fostering empowerment: this International Women’s Day, IndustriALL will focus on women in trade union leadership. We will highlight women leaders in our unions and their achievements to inspire more women and younger generations to take up leadership positions. Trade unions need to redefine power structures by ensuring inclusive access for young generations.
Get involved! Join the IndustriALL Women Facebook group and report back on your actions for International Women’s Day. Please tag IndustriALL in your posts on social media and use the hashtags #ALLWomen and #NOExcuse