Reimagining Justice: Decent Work for Women
- 16 Mar - 16 Mar
- 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA
16:30 - 18:00 EDT
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Join the Global Unions joint parallel event to the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW70), Reimagining Justice: Decent Work for Women on 16 March, at the UN Church centre, 11th floor, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York.
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Background
Despite international commitments under CEDAW, the Beijing Platform for Action and the SDGs, women continue to face systemic barriers to justice, including discriminatory laws, under-resourced institutions, shrinking civic space and unequal power relations in the labour market and in society more broadly.
In the view of the international trade union movement, access to justice is both a cornerstone of democracy and peace, and a concrete means of promoting social and economic justice through decent work. Unions play an essential role in the promotion of women’s human and labour rights, including by representing women workers, promoting international labour standards, advocating for equal opportunities and treatment at work and in society, and address violence, harassment and all forms of discrimination in the world of work.
In this context, the event will explore key trade union demands for CSW70 Agreed Conclusions, including gender-responsive justice systems, effective labour inspection and courts, defense of freedom of association and collective bargaining, and the ratification and implementation of core ILO standards. It will also examine how access to justice underpins economic justice and decent work for women in all their diversity. By providing a space for dialogue on access to justice for women from the perspective of the world of work, among trade unions, UN agencies, governments and civil society, it will put forward policy recommendations to accelerate action on the follow up of CSW70 and the Beijing Platform for Action more broadly.
The meeting will be held in person and in English. Registration for all CSW70 events is here.
Objectives
Present the key demands of the global trade union movement at CSW70.
Showcase examples and testimonies of trade union work in ensuring access to justice for women, both within and beyond the workplace.
Put forwards policy recommendations on the follow up of CSW70 and the revitalization process of the Beijing PfA in the context of the UN80 process.
Programme
TIME | SESSION | SPEAKERS |
4.30 -4:40 | Opening
| · Moderator: Siobhán Vipond, Vice-Chair of the Women’s Committee, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) · Emanuela Pozzan, Senior Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination Specialist at the International Labour Organization (ILO) |
4.40- 4:50 | Key note: gender equality, peace and democracy | · Sweeta Azimi, National Union of Afghanistan Workers and Employees · Laura Gutierrez, Global Worker Rights Coordinator, AFL-CIO United States |
4:50-5:20 | Session 1: Access to justice and women’s labour rights | · Christian Courtis, Gender and Women’s Rights Adviser, OHCHR-New York Office · Jessica Isbister, Vice President of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada and member of the Women Transport Workers’ Committee of the International Transport Workers’ Federation · Catherine McKenna, UNISON's President
Interventions in plenary |
5:20-5:50 | Session 2: Economic justice and decent work | · Government of Mexico (name TBC) · Salamatu Braimah Mahamah, Gender Responsible, Ghana Trade Union Congress, Education International · Ziona Tanzer, Senior Law Specialist, International Lawyers Assisting Workers’ Network
Interventions in plenary |
5.50-6 | Closing remarks
| · Jocelyn Chu, Programme Specialist, Economic Empowerment UN Women · Emanuela Pozzan, Senior Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination Specialist at the International Labour Organization (ILO) · Closing remarks by Siobhán Vipond, Vice-Chair of the Women’s Committee, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) |