2023 International Women's Month

The Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) will mark the 2023 International Women’s Day with a week-long campaign that carries the theme: “Women for Fair Transition: Equality, Peace, and Green Jobs.”  

Join Us!

Starting 1 March, BWI will promote climate justice and a fair transition as essential elements in achieving a gender-equal future of work. BWI will underscore that peace on the planet is also a fundamental step in building a better future. 

This year, we are looking to the future and remembering the history of women’s victories. We have chosen colors that symbolize the historical struggles of women such as purple for political rights, freedom and dignity, white for purity, and green as “the emblem of spring.” Women won many struggles and brought societies closer to achieving full gender equality. They have also inspired many women from different parts of the world to stand up. 

Inspired by historic victories in the past and present, women continue to lead in the struggle for an equal, safe and peaceful future. The future largely depends on our collective ability to deliver a just transition to a sustainable economy that serves the people, protects the environment and provides for decent green jobs. These we all aspire for under a more just society where we can all live in peace. Thus, this year, purple denotes equality, white represents peace, and green symbolises green jobs. 

Take action!

We call on BWI affiliates to: 

1. Organise meetings with trade unionists on the gender aspects of a just transition, and discuss strategies for gaining access to new skills for greener, cleaner and safer jobs.
2. Encourage trade union members to be creative online and offline in expressing their solidarity and support for our IWD campaign this year. 
3. Issue trade union statements to government leaders, policy and opinion makers, and media practitioners anchored on our message that women stand up for fairness in the just transition to a green economy where equality, peace, and justice are essential virtues.

Show solidarity! 

To show solidarity at the international level, we encourage BWI affiliates to: 

1. Update your profile picture or video with our IWD poster starting 1 March.
2. Mobilise trade union members to take photos of themselves holding IWD posters. Download the posters here.
3. On social media, use the hashtags: #Gender&ClimateJustice #BWIPurple&Green
4. Invite trade union members to join BWI’s “Gender Equality Storytelling Caravan” on Instagram. Follow BWI on Instagram: bwiglobalunion. 

Do send a copy of your statements, as well as reports and photos of your actions to BWI.

For more information, please contact anna.andreeva@bwint.org