Second Conference of ITUC/PERC Young Women’s Network

On 21-22 of June in Berlin, Germany was organized second Conference for PERC Young Women Network foreseen especially for young women trade unionists and gathered around 25 representatives of Trade Unions from the PERC region. The main theme of the School was strengthening the voice of young women workers in trade unions. The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss young women’s issues, how to overcome it and to give suggestions to the PERC Women Committee’s programme.

The meeting was organized with the support of ACTRAV and hosted by DGB. PERC Women’s Committee and experts from ITUC worked on the program and organization of work during the School. Meeting started with welcome words by Elke Hannack, Vice-President of the DGB and presentation of the DGB project “What’s in it for Women? Economic Independence!” here more information in German.

Participants were introduced to upcoming 4th ITUC World Congress’s topics, quotas, recommendations and encouraged to become part of the delegation of their organizations. The campaigns by the ITUC were presented and discussed with participants that were involved or would like to be involved. "Count us in campaign" - promoting women in TU leadership. Participants shared their personal experience being a part of "Decisions for life" campaign. Members of PERC women’s committee shared their experience on participating in "STOP Gender based violence" campaign and lobby work done on the national level to have a support for the new ILO convention.

The debates were organized on the topics on current Trade Union strategies and policies to address women and especially young women situations in the world of work. The practice is very different from strategies and clearly named issues to almost non existing policies. Participants discussed in working groups what could be done to overcome this situation and improve situation of young women and how that would affect whole family and society.

Communication channels and tools were discussed as an important part of trade union work and good experiences shared by participants. Organizing issues were discussed and based on the previous experience and training done, how to multiply this "know how" and involve more people in this important work. In the end the participants made recommendations to the PERC Women Committe’s work programme.