General Secretary Patricia King, speaking at the ICTU Women's Conference in Wexford, on the theme of 'Realising Our Rights - Women Organising for Change' said, "women's participation in public life is entirely necessary to advance gender equality, and she noted 'that women in public life are increasingly subjected to harassment". She said " only 24.3% of women occupy senior decision making roles worldwide , this is why trade unions must never stop campaigning for gender equality".
The General Secretary reflected on the progress and remaining challenges in implementing the Beijing Platform for Action on Women's Rights, agreed 25 years ago.
Delegates from North and South considered a range of motions on issues such as sexual violence, valuing women's work and sexual harrasssment.
The speakers also included Geraldine Alexander NIPSA, Alison Millar Vice President ICTU, Rula Salameh the Education and Outreach Director Palestine at Just Vision,and Margaret Coughlan, Joint Chair of the ICTU Women's Committee.
