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Collaboration with UNESCO on women workers' social rights

Researcher: Assoc Prof Suzanne Franzway


UNESCO Women's Studies and Gender Research Network meeting, ManilaWomen's Studies and Gender Research Network

Associate Professor Suzanne Franzway has become a founding member of UNESCO's Women's Studies and Gender Research Network, which was launched from the Human Rights and Gender Equality Section, Social and Human Sciences Sector at a meeting held at Miriam College, Manilla, 25–26 July 2007. The network's objectives are to advance WS/GR by research and advocacy for women's rights, encourage capacity building for students, researchers and WS programs and research centres, and encourage collaborations between UNESCO and inter-university partnerships. In 2008–2009, the network will support 3 projects: women and the judiciary (with a focus on the Middle East), radical democratisation of daily life, and social rights and women's trade union leadership. Suzanne has been working on the development of the third project since 2007 together with Prof Valentine Moghadam (Purdue University) and Prof Mary Margaret Fonow (Arizona State University). The network will be based at Miriam College for 2 years and limited to 26 participants in order to produce a clear organisational and policy framework.

Roundtable on women and trade unions

Assoc Prof Suzanne Franzway participated in a Roundtable on Women, Socioeconomic Rights and Trade Union Decision Making during the 2nd World Forum on Human Rights in Nantes, France on 12 July 2006. The roundtable brought together participants in the UNESCO project on enhancing Women's Socioeconomics Rights and Trade Union Leadership.

The purpose of this project was to:

  1. Analyse the role of international law and human rights instruments in the protection and expansion of women's socioeconomic rights, and how these laws affect legal frameworks, policies and advocacy campaigns at the national level.
  2. Examine the part played by trade union feminists in (a) bridging the divide between the labour movement and the women's movement, and (b) in promoting policies to enhance the working conditions and socioeconomic rights of women in the labour force.
  3. Build a research/advocacy network to promote the socioeconomic rights of working women.

This roundtable provided an opportunity to discuss research findings and policy implications.

Other pages of interest on the UNESCO site

History of International Women's Day
 

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