A landmark Declaration designed to strengthen the ILO’s capacity to promote its Decent Work Agenda, adopted in June 2008 at the International Labour Conference, includes gender equality as an essential element.

The Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization was adopted in Geneva by acclamation with an accompanying resolution by member States, and workers’ and employers’ organizations. It calls for a new strategy to sustain open economies and societies based on social justice, full and productive employment, sustainable enterprises and social cohesion.

The Declaration establishes a foundation on which the ILO can effectively support efforts of its constituents to promote and achieve progress and social justice through the four strategic objectives of the ILO: fundamental principles and rights at work, employment, social protection, and social dialogue and tripartism. The Declaration also states that “gender equality and non-discrimination must be considered to be cross-cutting issues in the aforementioned strategic objectives”.