Gender

In Mexico, women are fighting gender-based violence “nourished by love, empathy and the desire for justice”

Women in Mexico are waging a fervent battle against the huge upsurge in gender-based violence and the impunity surrounding too many cases of femicide.Read the full article

“A perfect storm”: why UK midwives are at the end of their tether

13 December 2023

“A perfect storm”: why UK midwives are at the end of their tether

The trauma of the pandemic, reduced pay in the context of inflation, and the weight of years of austerity in government health spending. Under these combined pressures, midwives in the United Kingdom’s National Health Service are choosing to leave the occupation entirely – leading to critical [...]Read the full article

Women face increasing pressure in Paraguay, a country deeply rooted in conservative values

26 October 2023

Women face increasing pressure in Paraguay, a country deeply rooted in conservative values

“There are really no favourable expectations. This is going to be above all a time of resistance for women and minority groups.”Read the full article

Workers will remain trapped in poverty until governments respect trade union rights

17 October 2023

Workers will remain trapped in poverty until governments respect trade union rights

Luc Triangle: “Most poor people in the world work. The systematic attacks on unions significantly reduces the ability of working people to secure and defend decent wages. Wages are not a neat calculation based on supply and demand and the price of labour; they are born from a bargaining [...]Read the full article

Multi-stakeholders gather to learn lessons from Lesotho on tackling gender-based violence and harassment at work

18 September 2023

Multi-stakeholders gather to learn lessons from Lesotho on tackling gender-based violence and harassment at work

“Although they were inspired by the success of the Bangladesh Accord that followed the devastating collapse of the Rana Plaza factory complex in 2013, what sets the Lesotho agreements apart is that they were the first to incorporate International Labour Organization Convention 190 (C190), a [...]Read the full article

Women across the world struggle to find emancipation and empowerment through work

14 August 2023

Politics & economy

Women across the world struggle to find emancipation and empowerment through work

Acquiring new skills, enriching social relations and, above all, achieving a degree of financial independence: these are just some of the benefits that women around the world seek through access to decent employment.Read the full article

In prison for debt, thousands of women are the ‘double victims' of poverty in Egypt

8 March 2023

In prison for debt, thousands of women are the ‘double victims’ of poverty in Egypt

Some 30,000 women are currently in prison in Egypt for failing to pay off small loans. NGOs are fighting for a relaxation of the law on debt.Read the full article

Working mothers in Bolivia: when motherhood collides with care work policies

29 July 2022

Working mothers in Bolivia: when motherhood collides with care work policies

While workplace childcare policies are relatively new in Bolivia, the country is making progress, for example by promoting breastfeeding rooms and day-care facilities. However, such policies are of little use when employers fail to respect labour [...]Read the full article

The rise of telework poses opportunities and challenges, particularly for women

1 June 2022

The rise of telework poses opportunities and challenges, particularly for women

Teleworking has expanded rapidly and haphazardly due to the pandemic. The risks include teleworking being confused with work-life balance and certain costs being placed on workers.Read the full article

Fifteen years after the first femicide law was adopted, the fight to end gender-based violence continues

23 May 2022

Fifteen years after the first femicide law was adopted, the fight to end gender-based violence continues

Whether in public or private, in the domestic or labour sphere, the killing of women, girls and non-binary people because of their sex and gender is a global phenomenon. According to a 2021 UNODC report, a woman or girl was killed by someone in their family every 11 minutes in [...]Read the full article

“Daughters of God”: life in India's transgender communities

16 May 2022

“Daughters of God”: life in India’s transgender communities

This photo essay is an immersive insight into the transgender communities of Pondicherry and Tamil Nadu in southern India, a testament to the day-to-day struggles and resilience of transgender women.Read the full article

Think the gig economy provides a platform for ‘women's empowerment'? Take a look at Ukraine and think again

27 January 2022

Think the gig economy provides a platform for ‘women’s empowerment’? Take a look at Ukraine and think again

Svitlana Iukhymovych : Chronic informality and gender inequity have paved the way for the platform economy’s current success in Ukraine.Read the full article

22 October 2021

Anti-abortion laws: a war against poor women

Manuella Libardi: Given the amount of research that shows how ineffective punitive laws are in curbing the number of abortions women carry out, it is difficult to imagine any other reason that they exist, other than to keep women out of the workforce and in [...]Read the full article

In the DRC, the production of reusable sanitary pads is improving hygiene and empowering women

18 October 2021

In the DRC, the production of reusable sanitary pads is improving hygiene and empowering women

In the DRC, access to sanitary towels remains a headache for women. According to a U-Report survey, 31 per cent of respondents considered lack of money to be the main difficulty they faced during their periods.Read the full article

The women of Sudan are pushing for a feminist agenda

12 July 2021

The women of Sudan are pushing for a feminist agenda

Marginally represented in the negotiations and side-lined during the transitional period that followed the revolution of December 2018, Sudanese women are ramping up their demands for equal rights in a bold move that challenges the patriarchal [...]Read the full article

25 March 2021

Why we need to know more about gender equality funding

Jamie Holton: Transparency should be at the heart of the renewed efforts to address gender inequalities post Covid-19.Read the full article

Can algorithmic registers solve automated bias?

24 March 2021

Can algorithmic registers solve automated bias?

“AI registers by themselves won’t solve everything. Transparency is a necessary first step, but in the end, better AI governance requires a comprehensive approach.”Read the full article

18 March 2021

After the Covid-19 storm, it’s time to rebuild care homes on solid ground

Adrian Durtschi: Fixing care is about rebalancing the ways in which the decisions that shape it are made. Ensuring workers have a strong say is fundamental.Read the full article

Laura Baena: “In this patriarchal society, men are seen as heroes and women as bad mothers”

5 March 2021

Culture

Laura Baena: “In this patriarchal society, men are seen as heroes and women as bad mothers”

The coronavirus crisis has highlighted a crisis of care around the world, not only for the very young, but also for the old. It is one of the great challenges we have to approach from an international angle, without letting another day go [...]Read the full article

Despite reforms, patriarchal systems continue to hinder land ownership by African women

30 November 2020

Despite reforms, patriarchal systems continue to hinder land ownership by African women

Across the continent, there have been advancements in gender equality provisions in land access on paper, but now governments, civil society and local communities are being urged to come together to work on implementation.Read the full article

Despite landmark legal protections, women continue to face gender-based violence in pandemic-era Tunisia

25 November 2020

Despite landmark legal protections, women continue to face gender-based violence in pandemic-era Tunisia

Tunisia has the most comprehensive laws to protect women from gender-based violence in the MENA region, but the coronavirus pandemic has exposed some of the gaps between policy and practice.Read the full article

From science-fiction to the factory floor: can exoskeletons help reduce workplace injuries without increasing workloads?

4 November 2020

From science-fiction to the factory floor: can exoskeletons help reduce workplace injuries without increasing workloads?

“The effectiveness of exoskeletons in the workplace depends on a complex interaction between the specificities of the exoskeleton, the specificities of the task, and the specificities of the worker.”Read the full article

Reducing gender inequalities through gender budgeting: a huge challenge for public institutions?

15 July 2020

Reducing gender inequalities through gender budgeting: a huge challenge for public institutions?

Trailblazing municipalities within Europe have decided to adopt gender budgeting to tackle inequalities. In Belgium, the commune of Ixelles is trying to show more sceptical authorities the way.Read the full article

With the world in lockdown, for some, being at home is as dangerous as being outside

22 May 2020

With the world in lockdown, for some, being at home is as dangerous as being outside

“There are tools for government and employers to address this increase in violence. We know that there is a strong connection between violence at home and violence at work, and we absolutely need to address this in terms of human [...]Read the full article

What does the new Finnish government say about the country's commitment to equality?

18 March 2020

What does the new Finnish government say about the country’s commitment to equality?

The Nordic country rose to international headlines last year with a majority female cabinet and a 34-year old prime minister. The new government promises to continue furthering equality, but challenges remain.Read the full article

What will it take for Canada to confront its femicide crisis?

21 February 2020

What will it take for Canada to confront its femicide crisis?

“Given that we have a federal government that has labelled itself as ‘feminist’, we’ve been hoping that this will be the period in which a National Action Plan on Violence Against Women happens. We’re still waiting.”Read the full article

Gender violence study in Brazilian garment factories provides a ‘wake-up call to action'

3 February 2020

Gender violence study in Brazilian garment factories provides a ‘wake-up call to action’

The most frequent form of violence is bullying, with supervisors screaming and cursing at workers, threatening them if they do not produce at the required pace and harassing them for using the bathroom.Read the full article

9 January 2020

Here’s how civil society can push rising hate back to the fringes

Andrew Firmin: This global backlash of conservative anti-rights activism has been eroding hard-won human rights across the globe. But it is being met by an impressive civil society response that is increasingly seeking to build new coalitions and reach a broader range of [...]Read the full article

Patriarchy's counteroffensive: meet the international anti-feminism lobby

25 November 2019

Patriarchy’s counteroffensive: meet the international anti-feminism lobby

Campaigns aimed at stopping the legalisation of abortion, denying gender-based violence or advocating therapies to cure homosexuality are being promoted by international networks forming a powerful lobby. They talk of ‘gender ideology’ and their target is [...]Read the full article

7 October 2019

We made history with the Violence and Harassment Convention – now comes the work of bringing the law to life

Chidi King: The Violence and Harassment Convention (C190) and its accompanying Recommendation (R206) may be the most wide-reaching set of labour standards yet adopted by the ILO, establishing the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and [...]Read the full article

The ongoing struggle to end gender-based violence in Spain

2 October 2019

The ongoing struggle to end gender-based violence in Spain

Over the last 22 years, Spain has gone from being a country that was lagging behind in terms of legally classifying and eradicating gender-based violence to being one of Europe’s frontrunners in the area.Read the full article

Around the world, activists are campaigning for menstrual dignity

13 September 2019

Around the world, activists are campaigning for menstrual dignity

“We don’t expect schoolchildren to pack their own toilet roll and soap – so why do they have to buy their own sanitary products?”Read the full article

Will Sierra Leone overturn its school ban on teenage mothers?

9 September 2019

Will Sierra Leone overturn its school ban on teenage mothers?

Sierra Leone has one of the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in the world, with estimates that 28 per cent of girls aged between 15 and 19 have been pregnant or given birth at least once.Read the full article

“Challenging power isn't polite and beautiful”: Dr Stella Nyanzi and the right to be impolite in Uganda

28 June 2019

“Challenging power isn’t polite and beautiful”: Dr Stella Nyanzi and the right to be impolite in Uganda

Nyanzi’s prosecution is seen as just one of the ways in which dissenting views are being silenced in Uganda.Read the full article

Cycling against societal prejudice in Egypt

26 June 2019

Cycling against societal prejudice in Egypt

“I’m trying to change the mentality of both men and women in Egypt and get people used to seeing girls on bicycles.”Read the full article

The rise of the ‘disobedient mother': towards a feminist vision of motherhood

24 June 2019

Culture

The rise of the ‘disobedient mother’: towards a feminist vision of motherhood

Motherhood is one of the main instruments traditionally used to dominate and domesticate women, hence the rejection it faces within some feminist circles. How to be a mother and a feminist, and live to tell the story?Read the full article

Will the 2019 Women's World Cup mark a turning point in the battle against gender inequality in football?

12 June 2019

Culture

Will the 2019 Women’s World Cup mark a turning point in the battle against gender inequality in football?

“What is at stake here goes far beyond the sporting challenge. What we want to achieve is a level of visibility that will finally put women’s football on the map, across the whole of the country and abroad, and to reach the stage where we stop talking about women’s football and talk about football [...]Read the full article

10 June 2019

Workers shouldn’t have to wait a minute longer for an end to violence and harassment at work

Sharan Burrow: This month, the ILO will complete negotiations on a new international law to prohibit, prevent and remedy violence and harassment. If the negotiations are successful, the new law will place clear responsibilities on employers and governments for tackling the scourge of violence and harassment [...]Read the full article

‘Justice for Marija' – Serbia's first #MeToo scandal highlights the weaknesses of its democracy

23 May 2019

‘Justice for Marija’ – Serbia’s first #MeToo scandal highlights the weaknesses of its democracy

By demanding that her aggressor be brought to justice, Marija Lukić became an inspiration for women who are victims of violence, and a problem for political leaders trying to maintain their progressive image.Read the full article

It's time to bring menstrual awareness to workplaces

9 May 2019

It’s time to bring menstrual awareness to workplaces

Klara Rydström : Menstruation clearly makes for a substantial part of life, so why is it still taboo in discussions of work environment and work-life balance?Read the full article

Is legal reform enough to tackle Georgia's child marriage problem?

8 May 2019

Is legal reform enough to tackle Georgia’s child marriage problem?

“In rural and mountainous areas especially, where poverty is the most problematic issue, people find ways to survive by entering in underage marital relations.”Read the full article

1 May 2019

Changing the rules for working women

Maria Tsirantonaki: This Labour Day the International Trade Union Confederation is launching a call for a New Social Contract. What does this mean for working women? In the aftermath of #MeToo, 2019 is shaping up to be a key year in tackling gender-based violence at [...]Read the full article

#Makeallwomensafe: a campaign changing the terrain for sex workers

30 April 2019

#Makeallwomensafe: a campaign changing the terrain for sex workers

Laura Watson: Who can justify denying women the right to work together for safety and to organise in a union?Read the full article

For us, by us: Amsterdam's life-saving transgender clinic

10 April 2019

For us, by us: Amsterdam’s life-saving transgender clinic

A Dutch initiative which allows transgender people to take their medical care and needs into own hands marks a major milestone in the struggle for transgender rights.Read the full article

Women farm workers achieve justice on the job in Morocco

8 March 2019

Women farm workers achieve justice on the job in Morocco

Through their union, female farmworkers in Meknes have achieved valuable skills that have enabled them to gain economic opportunities at work and new a sense of dignity.Read the full article

28 February 2019

We’ll tell you what we want, what we really, really want: freedom, safety and a living wage for garment workers

Clean Clothes Campaign: “Taking decisive action would demand that brands reach deeper into their profit margins and cut a bigger slice of the pie for those whose hard labour is behind the clothes that fills their glossy shops.”Read the full article

Could the Şule Çet murder-rape trial change the way Turkish courts tackle violence against women?

26 February 2019