The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) will be holding a seminar, starting today, on Women and work, at the ILO Headquarters in Geneva. The keynote address will be delivered by Ms. Nouzha Skalli, Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity of Morocco, in the presence of some 150 legislators from 55 countries.

Today, women account for almost 40 per cent of the total workforce. However, they remain disadvantaged in the workplace, their employment being preponderantly unpaid or underpaid compared to men's. "Promoting women's access to the labour market and enhancing their economic input are not only key elements of development and crucial to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, but also a matter of justice", said IPU President, Mr. Pier Ferdinando Casini.

The seminar, the second of its kind, will focus on a variety of issues, including questions related to unpaid work, equal pay, and discrimination or exploitation at work. It will endeavour to define adequate parliamentary action for achieving equality between men and women in this area.

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Established in 1889 and with its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the IPU, the oldest multilateral political organisation, currently brings together 146 affiliated parliaments and seven regional assemblies as associate members. The world organisation of parliaments has an Office in New York, which acts as its Permanent Observer at the United Nations.
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Contact for additional information or interviews:

Mrs. Luisa Ballin, IPU Information Officer 5, ch. du Pommier, CH - 1218 Le Grand-Saconnex / Geneva Phone: +41 22 919 41 16 Fax: +41 22 919 41 60 E-mail: lb@mail.ipu.org or cbl@mail.ipu.org Ms. Kareen Jabre, Programme Manager, IPU Programme for the Promotion of Partnership between Men and Women Phone: +41 22 919 41 25 or +41 22 919 41 25 45 E-mail: kj@mail.ipu.org