The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) and its affiliates are tackling structural barriers to gender equality and advancing decent work for women across all sectors through its Gender Transformative Agenda.

General-Secretary of the labour group, Akhator Odigie, disclosed this in commemoration of the 2026 edition of International Women’s Day (IWD).

Tagged, ‘For All Women and Girls: Rights. Justice. Action’, ITUC-Africa paid glowing tributes to the immense contributions of African women, mothers, sisters, daughters, and women workers, whose labour, resilience and leadership continue to drive the social and economic transformation of the continent.

Odigie maintained that this year’s theme, ‘For All Women and Girls: Rights. Justice. Action’ is both a rallying call and a reminder that commitments must translate into concrete change in the lives of women and girls across Africa.

He observed that while some progress has been made, deep structural inequalities remain.

His words: “African women continue to face the combined impact of the climate crisis, violent conflicts, rising inflation, illicit financial flows, and shrinking civic space. Despite bearing the heaviest social and economic burdens, women remain underrepresented in decision-making spaces.”

The ITUC-Africa scribe stated that for the labour movement, justice for African women means living free from violence, exploitation, and insecurity.

He noted that across the continent, conflicts and political instability continue to expose women and girls to gender-based violence, displacement, and the loss of livelihoods, adding that economic justice is very much central to gender equality.

“Inflation, rising food prices, and cuts to public
services continue to disproportionately affect women workers, particularly those in informal and precarious employment,” he stated.

ITUC-Africa, there, reiterated its call for universal access to maternity protection, childcare, healthcare, and income security in old age.

It insisted that governments must also address debt overhang and illicit financial flows that deprive Africa of critical resources needed to fund social protection and essential public services.

ITUC-Africa called on governments, employers, and all stakeholders to consciously work to end violent hostilities by embracing dialogue and readiness to use justice to promote peace.

It also charged African governments to enact and enforce equal pay legislation to close the gender wage gap and ramp up skills development opportunities for more women to enter the formal labour market.

The continental labour body equally urged governments to expand universal social protection, including maternity benefits, childcare, and healthcare.

According to the ITUC-Africa, speedy ratification and implementation of ILO Convention 190 and the AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls is crucial to the enthronement of gender equality on the continent.

It also tasked governments with ensuring meaningful representation of women in economic, political, and peace-building processes.

ITUC-Africa reiterated solidarity with all women and girls across Africa and reaffirmed its commitment to building a just, equal, and dignified world of work.