6th International Congress on Women, Work and Health

Making risks visible, protecting rights


Barcelona, April 28, 29 and 30, 2027

Día Mundial de la Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo

Congress presentation

After three decades since its first edition, Barcelona will once again host the International Congress on Women, Work and Health, to be held on April 28, 29 and 30, 2027. The Instituto Nacional de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo (INSST) and the Institut Català de Seguretat i Salut Laboral are organizing this event to address the challenges affecting women’s occupational health and to advance the design of more inclusive, equitable and effective public policies.

The Congress will bring together national and international experts from different disciplines, fostering a rich dialogue between research, professional practice and public policy. It is conceived as a highly specialized forum for analysis, exchange and scientific discussion at the intersection of sex-gender, health and working conditions.

The programme will include plenary lectures and interactive sessions featuring oral communications and posters, designed to encourage debate, critical reflection and the transfer of scientific knowledge.

Thematic areas

With a rigorous approach based on scientific evidence and interdisciplinarity, the Congress invites the submission of scientific papers and posters in the following thematic areas:

  • Integration of the sex-gender system in occupational health research and education.
  • Analysis of determinants, data collection and impacts on health economics.
  • Working conditions, reproductive age, maternal and child health, and work-life balance.
  • Emerging occupational risks and new methodologies for risk detection, including assessment methods and proposals for change.
  • Occupational health surveillance from a gender perspective.
  • Women’s health in particularly vulnerable groups.
  • Regulatory framework and public policies in occupational health from a sex-gender perspective.

Abstract submission will be open from September 1 to December 1, 2026.

Target audience

The Congress is aimed at a multidisciplinary audience interested in the relationship between work and health from a gender perspective. Participant profiles include:

  • Health professionals and students.
  • Social sciences professionals and students.
  • Health economists.
  • Experts in labour law and occupational risk prevention.
  • Occupational health and safety practitioners.
  • Social partners, public administration staff and civil society representatives.
  • Public policy specialists.
  • Human resources professionals.

The event is also open to anyone interested in advancing knowledge and action in the field of occupational health from a gender perspective.

History of the Women, Work and Health Congress

Coming soon

The International Women, Work and Health Congress originated from a process of scientific reflection and cooperation that began in the early 1990s. In 1993, the Women, Health and Quality of Life Programme, led by Dr Carme Valls Llobet within the Centre for Analysis and Programmes (CAPS), together with Dr Neus Moreno Saenz, organized the first international workshop on Women, Work and Health, bringing together researchers from 13 countries.

This workshop created a pioneering forum for scientific exchange focused on analyzing women's employment and working conditions and their impact on health. Among the topics discussed were the effects of work during pregnancy and the relationship between occupational stress and low birth weight: issues that were only beginning to enter the international debate on occupational health from a sex and gender perspective.

During the same period, a pioneering study on the health of women living and working in rural areas was also launched in collaboration with the Government of Catalonia and the National Confederation of Federations and Associations of Rural Families and Women (AFAMMER). The study aimed to assess the health effects of exposure to insecticides among women working in the agricultural sector.

 

The First International Congress:

Building on the knowledge generated through this workshop, together with other emerging research and the participation of an international network of experts, the initiative evolved into a larger scientific event. In 1996, Barcelona hosted the First International Women, Work and Health Congress, attended by representatives from 53 countries. The congress marked a milestone in raising awareness of occupational risks that affect women and men differently and in promoting the integration of a gender perspective into occupational health. The congress united scientists with a wide range of union and community groups, leading to stimulating discussions and new ideas.

The conclusions of the congress were set out in a consensus document that established three key lines of action:

  1. To incorporate a gender perspective into research on the health of women and men, with particular attention to occupational health. This included developing new indicators, measurement tools and research methods, and integrating this perspective into education, especially at the university level, as well as into healthcare practice.
  2. To eliminate all forms of discrimination and gender-based violence in access to employment and healthcare services, while promoting recognition and appreciation of all forms of work carried out by women and men, improving working conditions, and fostering better work organization and work-life balance.
  3. To develop individual, social and legislative resources aimed at strengthening women's autonomy and improving their quality of life.

 

A Growing International Network:

Following the first congress, an international research and collaboration network was established and continued to meet regularly, expanding knowledge on the relationship between work, health and sex/gender. Subsequent congresses were held in cities around the world:

•    Second Congress – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1999)
•    Third Congress – Stockholm, Sweden (2002)
•    Fourth Congress – New Delhi, India (2005)
•    Fifth Congress – Zacatecas, Mexico (2008)

Thirty-one years after the first congress was held in Barcelona, the city is once again hosting this international event. Its return provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress achieved, highlight current challenges, and continue to advance research and public policies that integrate a gender perspective into occupational safety and health.

Registration

Coming soon

HTML Example

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.

Call for papers and posters


All abstracts must be submitted exclusively through the online abstract submission system available at:
https://wwhcongress.es/event/1/


Guide to submitting abstracts through the WWH Congress management platform

 

The submission system will be open from 1 September to 1 December 2026.

By submitting an abstract, you acknowledge and agree that:

  • If your abstract is accepted, you must register for the in-person conference.
  • Your abstract will be published in the Congress Abstract Book.
  • Abstracts will not be edited. Authors are responsible for any spelling, grammatical or typographical errors.
     
A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.
A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.
A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.
A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.
A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.
A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.
A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.

Language: All abstracts must be submitted and presented in Spanish, Catalan, or English.

 

Title: Titles must not exceed 100 characters. Use sentence case (capitalizing only the first word, abbreviations and country names). Do not use all capital letters or unnecessary abbreviations. Indicate geographical location and dates where relevant.

 

Content: Abstracts must not exceed 2,000 characters, including spaces. The title, keywords and author information are not included in this limit. The submission system will reject abstracts that exceed the limit. 

Figures and tables are not accepted.

All abstracts must follow the structure below:

  1. Introduction and objectives: Brief background and rationale for the work, the problem addressed, and clearly defined objective(s).
  2. Methods: Study or intervention design, population/sample, setting, variables or sources of information, procedures, and method of analysis. You must explain how the sex and gender perspective has been incorporated into the study design and analysis.
  3. Results: Main results obtained, including specific data whenever possible. Results must be based on work already carried out and not solely on proposals for future work. Where relevant, results should be disaggregated by sex and possible gender differences should be analyzed.
  4. Conclusions: Main conclusions drawn from the results, their relevance to occupational health and, where appropriate, implications for prevention, professional practice, organizations or public policies.

 

Authorship: Each abstract may include a maximum of 5 authors (author or co-author). You must indicate which of the listed authors will be responsible for presenting the work in person at the congress by marking them using the microphone icon.

Each person may present a maximum of 3 abstracts.

If the person initially designated to present the oral communication or poster is unable to attend, they may be replaced by a co-author who is registered for the congress. This change can be made on the platform under “My Contributions”.

IMPORTANT: Please ensure that each author has correctly completed the following information under “My Profile”: full name, institutional affiliation (please use the institution’s full official name), postal address and email address.

 

Tracks: You must select at least one theme that matches the content of your abstract. If the content of your work relates to more than one theme, you are encouraged to select a second theme to facilitate the classification of your abstract within the congress programme. All submissions should incorporate a sex and gender perspective and address their relationship with occupational health.

The available themes are:


THEME 1. The Impact of Structural Inequalities, Gender and Social Determinants on Occupational Health

This theme addresses gender inequalities in the labour market and their impact on health from an intersectional and social justice perspective. Suggested topics include:

  • Horizontal and vertical occupational segregation
  • Gender pay gap, job insecurity and employment conditions, and their impact on working conditions
  • Feminisation of poverty, career trajectories and their impact on working conditions
  • The intersection of gender with social class, migration, ethnicity and age
  • Impact on health economics
  • Gender economics perspectives on health
  • Informal work and the informal economy
  • The impact of labour market reforms on women's health
  • Adapting work equipment, tools and personal protective equipment (PPE) to bodily diversity

 

THEME 2. Occupational Risks and Working Conditions in Female-Dominated Sectors

This theme focuses on the identification, assessment and prevention of occupational risks that are often overlooked or underestimated in predominantly female occupations. Suggested topics include:

  • Musculoskeletal disorders and ergonomic risks
  • Exposure to psychosocial risks
  • Occupational risks in paid and unpaid domestic and care work
  • Gender-sensitive occupational risk assessment
  • Design, implementation and evaluation of preventive measures from a gender perspective
  • Professionalisation and working conditions in the care sector

 

THEME 3. Work Organisation, Musculoskeletal Disorders and Mental Health

This theme explores the relationship between work organisation and mental health, taking into account power inequalities and working conditions. Suggested topics include:

  • Burnout among healthcare and care professionals
  • Job insecurity, working conditions and mental health
  • The impact of gender inequalities on psychosocial and ergonomic risk factors
  • Psychosocial and ergonomic risk management from a gender perspective
  • Organisational interventions to improve health from a gender perspective
  • The double burden of paid work and unpaid care responsibilities
  • Overload of unpaid care work
  • The impact of public policies promoting shared care responsibilities
  • Time poverty

 

THEME 4. Health Outcomes

This theme addresses women's occupational health across the life course, as well as occupational risks affecting the reproductive health of both women and men. Suggested topics include:

  • Reproductive health, pregnancy, breastfeeding and occupational risks
  • Reprotoxic and mutagenic substances at work and differential toxicology
  • The effects of exposure to environmental toxicants on chemical sensitivity, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia
  • Breast cancer and occupational exposure. Night shift work
  • The differential impact of the hormonal cycle and menopause on exposure to occupational hazards

 

THEME 5. Violence, Discrimination and Regulatory Frameworks

This theme examines different forms of violence and discrimination in the workplace and their impact on health. Suggested topics include:

  • Sexual harassment and gender-based violence at work
  • Racism, xenophobia, migrant workers and multiple discrimination
  • Legal frameworks and protection policies
  • Institutional prevention strategies
  • Implementation and evaluation of workplace violence prevention protocols
  • Tools for addressing sexual violence in the workplace
  • Organisational culture, professional isolation, discrimination dynamics and strategies for organisational change
  • Sexual violence and sex-based harassment in male-dominated workplaces

 

THEME 6. Innovation, Information Systems, Public Policies and New Forms of Work

This theme focuses on structural transformation through research and public action. Suggested topics include:

  • Gender-sensitive indicators in occupational health
  • Health surveillance from a sex and gender perspective
  • Health impact assessment of labour policies
  • Design, implementation and evaluation of occupational health public policies from a gender perspective
  • Governance and institutional coordination for integrating a gender perspective into occupational health
  • Teleworking and work-life boundaries
  • Digital labour platforms and precarious work
  • New inequalities related to emerging occupational risks
  • The impact of population ageing on occupational health

 

Keywords: Please provide three keywords that best reflect the content of your abstract. Please avoid repeating terms already included in the selected conference themes.

 

References: Maximum of 10 references, which may be bibliographic and/or regulatory. References must follow the Vancouver style.

 

Abstract Types: The following types of abstracts are accepted:

  • Research abstracts: studies presenting the results of scientific or technical research. Research abstracts that do not include results will not be considered for review.
  • Policy abstracts: analyses or proposals related to public policies, strategies or regulatory frameworks.
  • Good practice abstracts: descriptions of real-life interventions, programmes or workplace initiatives that have demonstrated positive outcomes.
  • Education and training abstracts: initiatives, programmes or methodologies related to education, training and capacity building.

 

Presentation format: You may indicate your first and second preference for the presentation format. The available options are:

  • Oral presentation: 10-minute presentation in a 60-minute session.
  • E-poster with presentation: 5-minute presentation in a 60-minute session.
  • E-poster without presentation: e-posters displayed throughout the congress without an oral presentation.

The final decision on the presentation format will be made by the Scientific Committee based on the score obtained during the evaluation process.


Proposals will be evaluated by the International Scientific Committee according to the following criteria:

  1. Compliance with the specified structure and submission guidelines
  2. Relevance to the congress
  3. Innovation and significance
  4. Clarity and appropriateness of the study design and methodology
  5. Adequate presentation of the results
  6. Consistency between the data and conclusions
  7. Relevance and quality of bibliographic and/or regulatory references.
  8. Overall quality: coherence, spelling and clarity of writing

Notification of acceptance will be sent on 15 January 2027.

Accepted proposals will subsequently receive information on the assigned presentation format, the format and duration of the presentation, as well as the necessary instructions for participation in the congress.

Once acceptance has been notified, authors will have until 15 March 2027 to submit:

  • PowerPoint file for oral presentations.
  • PDF, JPG or PNG file for e-posters.
  • Further instructions will be published on the Congress website.

HTML Example

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.

Programme

Coming soon


Coming soon

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.
A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.
A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.
A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.
A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.
A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.
A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used to organize longer prose.

Coming soon


Coming soon


Scientific Committee

Coming soon

When

Si participas de manera presencial, aquí te proporcionamos información para acudir a la jornada técnica.

Address

Instituto Nacional de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo (INSST)
Carrer de Dulcet, 2, Les Corts, 08034 Barcelona

Metro

Palau Reial

Bus

Parada 1864 - Sor Eulàlia d'Anzizu - Dulcet

Organizan

Contact

TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT
contact@wwhcongress.es