International Women's Day 2023: UITP works to #EmbraceEquity

Imagine a gender equal world…

A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.

By working towards equity within society, we all have a role to play in forging equality – collectively we can all #EmbraceEquity.

In recent years, UITP has placed a strong focus on the role of women in our industry as both passengers and employees.

Beginning with the launch of our #PT4ME campaign, to our Women in Leadership focus and the UITP Diversity and Inclusion Working Group, we’ve been advocating alongside our members for a more inclusive sector.

However, we know that there’s more to be done to make public transport a truly balanced sector.

Since 2019, we have also coordinated our communication activities around the theme of the annual International Women’s Day.

From #EachForEqual and #ChooseToChallenge, to#BreakTheBias – the involvement of our staff and global membership has helped to make this output shine.

Now, for International Women’s Day 2023 (Wed 8 March), we’re working towards making public transport a more equal sector with the official theme #EmbraceEquity.

At UITP, we’re always working to advance gender equality within the sector, and one way to do this is through the work of research projects. How can we develop mobility that offers people of all genders equal opportunities to access education, work, social and cultural activities? 

‘Sustainable Gender Practices in Mobility’ is a brand-new project commissioned by the European Investment Bank, and undertaken by UITP and Goodpoint. Over this period, we will develop benchmarks on current gender practices in sustainable mobility and identify best practices related to planning, project implementation and operations. 

The research which will contribute to mainstreaming gender equality in public transport projects. Much of the work will be supported by UITP’s Diversity & Inclusion Working Group. UITP will also draw upon extensive work from initiatives, surveys, and our advocacy campaign PT4ME.  

International Women’s Day belongs to everyone, everywhere. And that includes within public transport.

We know that problems remain in public transport when it comes to a gender balance – for all the women who use the service as passengers, there remains a lack of women working within it.

UITP’s own gender equality policy was put in place with the guidance of several leading figures from our Executive and Policy Boards, helping us to develop our internal direction.

The policy sets out UITP’s principles, such as no male-only panels for our events, as well as our targets to double the amount of women speakers at events, and increase the number of women on boards.

There’s always more work to do, and we must also practice what we preach. As a global voice for public transport, we can make sure our exciting and rapidly-developing sector is one that is inclusive for all.

On and around International Women’s Day we are launching several communication activities to encourage a more equal sector – all of it part of our overarching focus on Women in Leadership.

We must continue this debate beyond today and we will keep working with our members to move the conversation forward. Stay tuned for more! 

UITP is proud to embrace the #IWD2023 theme.

Worldwide everyone, everywhere can step forward to #EmbraceEquity

Will you join us?