Women’s Committee

The European Union has played a key role in making progress towards equality between women and men in the workplace, but sex-based discrimination does not stop there. Women and men still have unequal status in many areas of society, particularly in positions of power and decision-making. The ETUC believes much more needs to be done to improve opportunities for women, through legislation, awareness-raising, and a social framework that enables women and men to reconcile their work and private lives.

At the same time, the ETUC works to secure a full and equal role for women within the trade union movement. The current ETUC Equality Plan, agreed in 2003 and systematically evaluated, sets three objectives:
 to eliminate the female representation gap in decision-making bodies
 to extend gender mainstreaming
 to strengthen the role of the body responsible for gender equality policy.

The ETUC Women’s Committee was established in 1975, and comprises experts working in the field of gender equality from the national affiliates. It meets twice a year. The members elect their own President and two Vice Presidents. The Women’s Committee has three seats on the ETUC Executive Committee and one on the Steering Committee, to provide expertise and ensure that women’s interests are integrated into all ETUC policies and activities.