Dear colleagues

I am very pleased to share with you a recent publication by the International Labour Organization on social justice and women's work in the post-conflict context: Social justice and women's work in a post-conflict context: Understanding the role of women in social reproduction and its effect on their employment and productivity | International Labour Organization. 

Key points

·       Post-conflict social justice is an integral part of social justice in relation to work, employment and productivity.

·       Women's productivity may be hampered by the depletion of their human capabilities as a result of their social reproduction role and other constraints during the rebuilding of families, communities and, indeed, the entire country after a conflict.

·       The analysis of social justice and women's productivity needs to take into account physical and psychological depletion among women due to their social reproduction role in post-conflict settings.

·       The role of the State is paramount in the post-conflict rebuilding of an economy with social justice at its core, in particular gender justice so that women have the necessary rights and opportunities to pursue productive lives.

·       Employers are key institutional actors in creating opportunities for women.

·       Employers should be encouraged to incorporate a gender equality policy into their employment strategy.

·       The above issues should be at the heart of social dialogue between employers' and workers' representatives.

·       To support the design of effective policy interventions, further research needs to be conducted on the role of women in social reproduction in a post-conflict context, and on how this role may impact their employment and productivity.

Monash University, Australia

------------------------------
Fang Lee Cooke
Professor
Monash University
Melbourne
------------------------------