Some 450 union delegates from 100 countries will gather in Brussels on Oct. 19-21 for the first ITUC World Women’s Conference to examine the impact of the global employment crisis on women and design an international trade union action plan to improve labor security, wages and working conditions.

Sirel spoke with Carolina Llanos, Gender and Equal Opportunities Secretary of the Argentine Union of Rural Workers and Stevedores (UATRE), who will participate in the event in representation of the General Labor Confederation (CGT).

-What are the key topics that will be discussed in the Conference?

-Addressing international labor standards from a gender perspective, decent work, climate change, social security, food security, illiteracy, the rights of migrant women, women as decision-makers and the situation of young women at work and in trade unions are issues all that I would highlight.

-What are your expectations?

-This kind of activity is new to me. I hope I can rise to the occasion and represent my country as it deserves to be represented, and come back enhanced, both as a worker and as a woman, to share with rural workers the different experiences that we’ll be living in Brussels this week.

-In your opinion, what does this first women workers’ conference mean?

-It’s essential that we hold this kind of meetings, because that way women workers can share experiences that in the short and medium term contribute to strengthen our struggle for better working and living conditions for women around the world, a struggle that must involve the entire labor movement.