1. Composition of delegations and panels the ILO experience
NORMATIVE Background
monitoring
lessons learned
Next steps

2. Normative background
Article 389 of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles (now article 3.2 of the Constitution)
When questions specially affecting women are to be considered by the Conference, one at least of the advisers should be a woman
1975 ILC Resolution concerning a Plan of action with a view to promoting equality of opportunity and treatment for women workers
call on member States to ensure appointment of women in delegations on the same basis and by the same standards as men
1981 ILC Resolution concerning ILO action for women workers
call on member States to secure the widest possible participation of women at the ILOC on the same footing as men
1990 ECOSOC Resolution E/RES/1990/15
recommended targets for increasing the proportion of women in leadership positions: 30% by 1995 and 50% by 2000

3. Normative background (cont.)
1991 ILC Resolution concerning action for women workers
call on governments, employers’ and workers’ organisations to include more women in their delegations to the Conference and other major ILO meetings.
2009 ILC Resolution concerning gender equality at the heart of decent work
call on the ILO to improve through concrete measures the representation of women at all levels in the ILO, in all ILO meetings, and develop a set of gender indicators
2012 Report of the ILC Credentials Committee noting a decrease in the participation of women
Request to the Governing Body to consider measures to improve the situation
2012 Follow-up decision of the Governing Body
Request more detailed reporting on the participation of women
Establish a reporting mechanism through annual requests to States below the 30% target

4. Monitoring (evolution)
Basic monitoring of women participation in ILC since 1982 (following 1981 ILC resolution), and since 1990s for ILO regional meetings
Annual Office web posted report on Gender balance in the ILC since 2001
Special section of ILC Credentials Committee report on proportion of women in delegations since 2013 (following decrease in 2012)
DG’s request to selected member States since 2013
30% target reached at ILC in 2015
Breakdown by country since 2016

5. Scope of monitoring (current)
Credentials committee & subsequent Office report
Overall proportion of women and men, including 10-year trends
Breakdown by group (Government - Employers - Workers)
Breakdown by category (in leadership positions and other positions)
Breakdown by country (and by region)
Reporting mechanism for countries < 30% target
Reasons for not having met the target
Measures taken to address the situation and to achieve ultimate parity goal
Clinics with selected countries to analyse the situation

6. Proportion of women by group
Monitoring sample 1
Proportion of women by group

7. Proportion of women by function
Monitoring sample 2
Proportion of women by function

8. Proportion of women by region
Monitoring sample 3
Proportion of women by region
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Africa
23.4
22.6
20.3
23.9
23.8
24.5
23.7
Arab States
13.0
12.8
11.7
14.0
22.8
18.8
29.5
Asia and the Pacific
21.3
24.6
21.1
24.8
27.7
23.5
Europe
36.3
35.6
35.8
36.1
38.6
38.3
38.4
Americas
30.9
35.0
32.2
34.0
34.1
33.8
Total
27.6
27.9
26.8
27.2
29.7
29.8
30.2

9. Proportion of women by country and group
Monitoring sample 4
Proportion of women by country and group

10. Some lessons learned Success factors Need for improvement
Gender equality as part of Organization’s core mandate
Senior management drive and support
Dedicated ressources
Need for improvement
No progress without indicators and close monitoring
Impact analysis of national policies and incentives
Need for better communication of best practices and training opportunities

11. Next steps
Beyond the 30% target - moving towards gender parity in major ILO meetings
Expanding the data collection and monitoring to all ILO meetings
Start monitoring gender dimension in panels/committees
Momentum for further action by 2019 in the context of the «women at work» ILO centenary initiative

12. Useful links Last Credentials Committee report: Last Office report:
Last Office report:
Women at work centenary initiative:
ILO Gender, Equality and Diversity Branch: