6th International Congress on Women, Work and Health

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.