ILO Gender News

Monday, February 14, 2011
Author: 
International Labour Organization (ILO)

In my first week as the new Director of the Bureau for Gender Equality, I witnessed our Director-General, Juan Somavia, join an elite group of laureates when he received the MDG3 Champion Torch in Oslo, Norway. Each torch bearer promises to do “something extra” in support of gender equality and women's economic empowerment. This campaign was launched by the Danish Government in March 2008 to revitalize efforts for promoting the achievement of Millennium Development Goal 3 by 2015, a goal that is still today far out of reach. In accepting the Torch, the D-G pledged the ILO, among other things, to work towards an international labour standard to combat discrimination and abuse of domestic workers; implement programmes in post conflict areas to protect women against forced labour and trafficking; pursue a campaign with women business leaders to protect women in high risk industries and sectors; and to reinforce women's organizations and dialogue. And there is the promise to reflect these commitments in the Strategic Policy Framework 2010-15 and approved budgets, currently being developed. In other words, my directorship got off to a flying start!

I joined the ILO in 1979 and over the years have had the pleasure of putting my legal and human rights expertise to use in a wide range of Departments and Offices: the Freedom of Association and Equality and Human Rights Coordination Branches (NORMES), the Southern African Multidisciplinary Team (SROHarare), the Department for Government, Labour Law and Administration (GLLAD) and, most recently, the Social Dialogue, Labour Law and Labour Administration Branch (DIALOGUE). I have experience in international and compara-tive labour law, and have always had a special interest in human rights, HIV/AIDS and of course gender equality. Some readers might recall my research and articles on sexual harassment and on affi rmative action in the world of work. And colleagues in the field will remember all those training courses on better implementation of Convention No. 111 – a text that I am passionate about – that we put together. From where I sit now, it seems like destiny has pulled me towards this fight to eliminate discrimination right from the start. My welcome into the Bureau has been so generous, and I would be remiss not to give a special word of thanks to the former Director, Evy Messell, for her work over the past years: Evy, gender equality is in your heart, at the heart of decent work!

In this issue of ILO Gender News you will find articles from both headquarters and the regions illustrating how so many women and men in this Organization are truly committed to further gender equality in the world of work. And let us not forget that we are mere months away from the 2009 International Labour Conference, where “Gender equality at the heart of Decent Work” is the subject of a General Discussion, as decided by the Governing Body a year ago. To raise awareness on this theme before the Conference, GENDER launched a campaign in June 2008, which you can read about on the very next page. As in previous issues, the newsletter is divided into three sections; news from headquarters, news from the regions and new publications.

I really look forward to working with you and hope you enjoy the read!

- Jane Hodges

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