Gender equality
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Eustaquio Santimano
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Hashoo Foundation USA - Houston, TX
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Gaganjit Singh / UN Women
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Jobson / UNICEF
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Thierry Falise / ILO
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M. Rakusen / AFP
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DVIDSHUB
The primary goal of the ILO is to promote opportunities for women and men to obtain decent work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. Gender equality is a key element in reaching this goal and is a cross-cutting policy driver for all ILO policy outcomes.
The ILO Policy on Gender Equality and Mainstreaming supports a two-pronged approach of gender mainstreaming: analysing and addressing in all ILO initiatives the specific needs of both women and men, and targeted interventions to enable women and men to participate in, and benefit equally from, development efforts.
The ILO Policy on Gender Equality and Mainstreaming supports a two-pronged approach of gender mainstreaming: analysing and addressing in all ILO initiatives the specific needs of both women and men, and targeted interventions to enable women and men to participate in, and benefit equally from, development efforts.
News and articles
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Webinar
Learning webinar: Work-life integration: Successful workplace practices in the “new normal”
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© Reuters 2021
asiaone, China
Women in China hit with 'parenthood penalty' as firms offer men-only roles
11 January 2021
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© Reuters 2021
The Japan Times
The pandemic doesn’t have to hurt women most
04 January 2021
Publications
Projects
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Promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment through development cooperation
Beyond mainstreaming gender into all its development cooperation projects, the ILO coordinates a portfolio of specific projects.
Highlights
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Interactive Map: Explore the gender labour gap around the world
Despite significant progress over the past century, women are still a long way from achieving gender equality in the workplace. In many parts of the world, women are still trapped in low-skilled work and work longer unpaid hours. Explore the chart to learn how working women are faring around the world.
Women at work: 20 years of progress and challenges
In 2015, only half of the world’s working age women are in the labour force, in contrast to 77 per cent of working age men.
© Gates Foundation
Youth
More young women and men aged 15 to 24 are out of work today than 20 years ago. The number of young women working is much lower than young men – less than 40 per cent are in the labour force.
More young women and men aged 15 to 24 are out of work today than 20 years ago. The number of young women working is much lower than young men – less than 40 per cent are in the labour force.
© ILO / S-J.Saltmarsh
Vulnerable employment
Today, fewer women are in vulnerable employment than 20 years ago, and their risk of having such work has declined more than it has for men.
Today, fewer women are in vulnerable employment than 20 years ago, and their risk of having such work has declined more than it has for men.
© Daniel Mihailescu / AFP
Governments
There are now more women in government than before; however, in 2015 only one out of twelve heads of government are women worldwide.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle listens to his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar (2011)
There are now more women in government than before; however, in 2015 only one out of twelve heads of government are women worldwide.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle listens to his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar (2011)
© Aamir Qureshi / AFP
Management
In 2015 women head up only 5 per cent of the Fortune 500, up from zero in 1995. Women have a better chance of becoming managers, but mostly in certain areas – human resources, communications, finance and administration.
Virginia M. Rometty, Chairwoman, President, and CEO, IBM
In 2015 women head up only 5 per cent of the Fortune 500, up from zero in 1995. Women have a better chance of becoming managers, but mostly in certain areas – human resources, communications, finance and administration.
Virginia M. Rometty, Chairwoman, President, and CEO, IBM
© Danuta Otfinowski / Fortune Most Powerful Women
Protection
More than half of all countries worldwide today offer 14 weeks or more of maternity leave, but only 41 per cent of all women benefit. Fathers now enjoy paid paternity leave (between one to 90 days) in at least 78 countries.
More than half of all countries worldwide today offer 14 weeks or more of maternity leave, but only 41 per cent of all women benefit. Fathers now enjoy paid paternity leave (between one to 90 days) in at least 78 countries.
© S. Frances / Only World / Only France
Pay gap
The gender pay gap is closing, but at a glacial rate. Women still earn on average 23 per cent less than men. At the current rate of change, that gap won’t close for another 70 years.
The gender pay gap is closing, but at a glacial rate. Women still earn on average 23 per cent less than men. At the current rate of change, that gap won’t close for another 70 years.
© M. Rakusen / AFP
The motherhood pay gap
Mothers not only bear the main responsibility for childcare, but earn less as a result.
Mothers not only bear the main responsibility for childcare, but earn less as a result.
© Hervé Hughes / hemis.fr
Care work
While men are beginning to spend more time on providing care, women still shoulder the lion’s share of unpaid care work at home. The more time spent on unpaid care work, the less likely a woman will have a decent job.
While men are beginning to spend more time on providing care, women still shoulder the lion’s share of unpaid care work at home. The more time spent on unpaid care work, the less likely a woman will have a decent job.
© Adriane Ohanesian / AFP
Disability
Women with disabilities are at greater risk of poverty and unemployment than disabled men. In most countries, men with disabilities are twice as likely to have work and earn more than women with disabilities.
Women with disabilities are at greater risk of poverty and unemployment than disabled men. In most countries, men with disabilities are twice as likely to have work and earn more than women with disabilities.
© Nguyen A. / ILO
Asia
In Asia, more women are moving away from employment in the agriculture sector to work in the industry and the services sector.
In Asia, more women are moving away from employment in the agriculture sector to work in the industry and the services sector.
© Dominic Chavez / World Bank
Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest labour force participation rate for women (65 per cent versus a global figure of 50 per cent).
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest labour force participation rate for women (65 per cent versus a global figure of 50 per cent).
© Antoine Lorgnier / Only World / Only France
However, Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest concentration of women in high-skilled jobs or jobs that are typically associated with better wages (i.e. jobs that generally require formal education).
© Martine Perret / UN Photo
Arab States
There are now 17 million more women working in the Arab States than in 1995 and there are more women employed in high-skilled jobs, which are generally better paid. Over the last 20 years, the number of women working in the Middle East almost tripled (from around 6 million to 15 million). However, there are wide gender gaps in participation, as more than three times as many men are working than women in the region.
There are now 17 million more women working in the Arab States than in 1995 and there are more women employed in high-skilled jobs, which are generally better paid. Over the last 20 years, the number of women working in the Middle East almost tripled (from around 6 million to 15 million). However, there are wide gender gaps in participation, as more than three times as many men are working than women in the region.
© Abbas Momani / AFP
Latin America
Today, most women in Latin America work in the services sector.
Today, most women in Latin America work in the services sector.
© Maria Fleischmann / World Bank
There are more young women aged 15 to 24 at work in Latin America today than 20 years ago. While there are more young men working than women, the gender gap has decreased over the years.
© Yamuni Rashmika Perera / ILO
Developed Countries and European Union
There are more women working in Developed Countries and the European Union today than before.
There are more women working in Developed Countries and the European Union today than before.
© Monty Rakusen / AFP