The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has demanded an end to barriers hindering women’s leadership.
Mrs Martha Molema, President of ITUC-Africa, made the call at the closing ceremony of the second ITUC-Africa Women’s Biennium Conference on Friday in Lome, Togo.
“When feminists and feminist economists speak, they ask: Whose work counts? Whose life matters?” Molema queried, stressing the need to recognise women’s contributions.
“If women’s committees are not funded or are underfunded, this must be condemned. Every barrier must reflect women’s priorities,” she said.
“We call for adequate support for women’s participation,” Molema said, urging trade unions to create opportunities for women to contribute meaningfully to leadership.
Molema said women must participate in resource allocation and distribution, occupy decision-making positions and influence policies affecting their lives.
“Everywhere, a woman is necessary. We are necessary,” she said, urging women to lead, contest, organise, negotiate and take charge across workplaces and trade unions.
She condemned unequal pay, harassment, corruption and other barriers limiting women’s advancement, while urging unions to empower women in informal and underrepresented sectors.
Molema called for stronger support, resources and capacity building for women’s committees, urging participants to hold leaders accountable and reject corruption and inequality.
“We will rewrite the story of violence broken, of opportunities lost, of women leading the change, and of women empowering the next generation,” she said.
Ms Fiona Magaya, Rapporteur of the conference, said participants resolved to strengthen women’s leadership through clear pathways, mentoring and sponsorship, particularly for young women.
She said young women should be empowered to influence policies, shape union agendas and assume leadership responsibilities rather than being limited to participation in union activities.
Magaya said the conference resolved to intensify efforts against workplace violence, sexual harassment and gender discrimination through stronger reporting mechanisms and advocacy for ILO Convention 190.
She said participants also called for removing barriers, including childcare responsibilities, inaccessible venues, inconvenient meeting schedules, limited digital participation and organisational cultures that exclude women.
Magaya said the conference resolved to strengthen organising among women workers in the informal economy, including domestic, care, migrant and platform workers.
She said participants also demanded greater representation of women in social dialogue and collective bargaining, alongside sustainable financing, intergenerational dialogue and stronger partnerships.
Magaya said the resolutions provided a framework for strengthening women’s participation and influence in trade unions from 2026 to 2028.
She said achieving gender equality required practical action, shared responsibility and sustained commitment from trade unions and their partners.
The conference brought together trade union leaders, women workers and other stakeholders to deliberate on trade union feminism, gender equality, social justice and women’s leadership.