Ei-iE

To mark International Women’s Day, 8th March, EI, which represents thirty million teachers and other education employees throughout the world, the majority of whom are women, is highlighting women’s and girls’ right to quality education and to economic empowerment. In this context, EI wishes to emphasise the intrinsic value of gender equality, fairness and solidarity to society.

The 2011 EI Report on the Status of Women in Unions, Education and Society, showed that, although almost all countries have gender equality enshrined in their legal systems, often these laws are neither implemented properly nor enforced adequately. Education unions reaffirm regularly their commitment to gender equality, but the Report shows that, while women constitute the majority of education union members in most parts of the world, they are under-represented in the union leadership. The higher the decision-making body, the lower is the percentage of women participants in the body.

Education unions play a vital role in promoting gender equality in society generally. By securing women workers’ rights through collective bargaining, and by educating the next generation in the spirit of gender equality and solidarity, the actions of educators and their union organisations can effect change!

Education International wishes to take the opportunity of International Women’s Day, 2012, to celebrate the vital role which women play in society generally and to express its appreciation to women in education all over the world for the vital work which they perform.