Gender equality at the heart of decent work, Campaign 2008-2009

The year 2009 is significant in many ways for the International Labour Organization (ILO). It is the 90th anniversary of the founding of the ILO, the 10th anniversary of its gender equality action plan and the year the International Labour Conference (ILC) will hold a general discussion on “Gender Equality at the Heart of Decent Work”.

In the lead-up to this discussion, the ILO is launching a global campaign on gender equality and the world of work.

Objectives of the campaign

  • increase general awareness and understanding of gender equality issues in the world of work;
  • highlight the specific linkages between gender equality and securing decent work for all women and men;
  • promote the ratification and application of key ILO gender equality labour standards; and
  • advocate the importance of overcoming existing barriers to gender equality as beneficial for all.

Twelve themes

The campaign is built around twelve Decent Work themes. These themes will be looked at through a gender lens, showing how various issues may affect women and men differently in their access to rights, employment, social protection and social dialogue. It is a one-year campaign, starting in June 2008 and ending in June 2009. The themes will be unveiled on this website throughout the year.

Campaign materials and events

For each of the campaign themes, an information brief will be made available, accompanied by a poster and a postcard. Events may be organized by ILO offices in different regions throughout the year.

Reaching out to partners

The campaign actively reaches out to ILO constituents and the general public. For example, the campaign supports:

  • Activities around the 12 themes undertaken by governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations;
  • Efforts made by women’s associations, gender equality civil society groups and various academic gender and labour institutions to highlight the key issues;
  • Sharing of experiences, stories, video footage, photographs, and facts illustrating gender equality and/or gender-based discrimination in the world of work;
  • Promoting gender equality and decent work stories through local media and press, for example written articles, radio programmes or local television featuring special programmes.

More information on specific items and materials can be requested through the campaign e-mail address gendercampaign@ilo.org