European women workers raring to lead fight for climate justice
BWI’s European Women’s Committee (ECW) on 23 September met in the historical city Sofia, Bulgaria to celebrate the many achievements of women trade unionists in the past and present, and identify the key battles in the future.
The ECW proudly stated that their continuing fight against gender-based violence in Europe resulted in more ratifications of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 190 in the region. At the same time, the committee recognised the violent reality faced by millions of women workers and children in Europe. It was underscored that international humanitarian solidarity and international union solidarity are key instruments that could help women workers overcome these crises and bring peace to their workplaces and homes.
The EWC had a profound discussion on the best ways to implement BWI’s gender analysis framework (gender lens) and identified the strengths and weaknesses of its gender equality strategies in the BWI sectors in the region. One of the important outcomes of this discussion relates to the gender component of the climate justice convergence. It was stressed that climate change is recognised as the important issue in Europe, however, women should take a leading position by being part of climate policy debates and include gender issues in all the fair transition programs; to make sure that there will be equal access to new skills and jobs created and to reassure that the fair transition will be fair for all. Thus, the EWC strongly supported BWI’s Heat Stress Campaign recognising the dangers of climate change are no longer a distant abstraction for workers and particularly women. Women workers’ leading role in the fight for climate justice will certainly make a difference.
Ivana Dimitrova, EWC Chair, SGIP, North Macedonia said: “The spirit of unity in the European Women Committee is incredible. Our solidarity, joint commitment and dedication give us strength and power.”