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PIARC (World Road Association), founded in 1909 and comprising 125 member governments from all over the world, is the global forum for exchange of knowledge and experience on roads, road transport policies and practices. With consultative status to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, the Association is contributing to a stable and sustainable global development of the road and transport sector.

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  2. Discovering PIARC
  3. Organisation
  4. Commissions
  5. Promotion of gender inclusion and diversity

Promotion of gender inclusion and diversity

PIARC decided in November 2022 to make gender inclusion and diversity a value of the organisation and adopted a Gender inclusion and diversity strategy.

Why?

Transport, including roads, is not gender neutral. In many societies, women’s and men’s travel patterns and needs differ, mainly as a consequence of different conditions in everyday life and different values and priorities. Repeated research suggests that in general women may prioritize issues of personal protection and wellness in the transport system (such as safety, security, comfort, courteousness, and hygiene) whereas men may be more concerned about issues like faster travel times, often at the expense of service or personal security. Yet roads policy and strategy are often gender blind and fail to recognize the needs and priorities of all users.

The different values, needs and priorities of different groups should be reflected in transport and road infrastructure planning, design, maintenance, and construction.

In addition to differences in travel needs and behavior, women are not well-represented in the road transport sector workforce. For example, in 2018 women represented less than 20% of the global transport workforce.

PIARC is no exception, the status across the whole association is unbalanced when it comes to gender. From membership in the Council and the Executive Committee to Commissions, Technical Committees and Task Forces, the gender composition of the members and the leadership is not yet balanced.

For PIARC’s work to remain relevant and be effective, gender inclusion and diversity must be at its heart. This can only be achieved if PIARC representatives at all levels are diverse, and all members are able to contribute fully.

This is why PIARC’s Council decided to make gender inclusion and diversity a value of the organisation.

Promotion of gender inclusion and diversity strategy

A Promotion of gender inclusion and diversity Commission (PGIDC) was set up at the level of the Executive Committee.

It prepared a strategy which includes three strategic priorities under which several objectives and actions are identified.

  1. Raise awareness of PIARC members and road and road transport community related to gender inclusion and diversity.
  2. Create an inclusive culture in PIARC
  3. PIARC technical reports and products should reflect the diversity of road transport users.

Promotion of gender inclusion and diversity Commission (PGIDC)

The PGIDT was created in 2021 and assigned as a permanent group to the Executive committee.

PIARC council adopted the Promotion of Gender Inclusion and Diversity (PGID) as a value of the organization and approved a Gender inclusion and diversity strategy in 2022. A summary of the Gender inclusion and diversity strategy has been included as an appendix to the Strategic Plan 2024-2027.

In 2024, the PGID Team became the PGID Commission.

The PGIDC consists of members from Italy, United Kingdom, Austria, USA, Sweden, Spain, Paraguay, Tunisia and Benin coordinated by the General Secretariat.

  • Commission members

    Chair: Emanuela Stocchi

    Emanuela Stocchi

    Director of international affairs at AISCAT - Associazione Italiana Società Concessionarie Autostrade e Trafori, Italy

  • Vice Chair: Sue Percy

    Sue Percy

    Chief Executive at CIHT- Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation, United Kingdom

  • Lori Porreca

    Lori Porreca

    International Program Manager at FHWA- Federal Highway Administration, United States

  • Lina Granlund

    Lina Granlund

    Senior Project Leader for Transport Planning Studies - Swedish Transport Administration, Sweden

  • Reingard Vogel

    Reingard Vogel

    Head of Department at ASFINAG BMG, Austria

  • Imen Makhlouf

    Senior Civil Engineer, Transport Infrastructure Expert, Tunisia

  • Patricia Sanz Lázaro

    Head of International Affairs at the General Directorate of Roads of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Spain

  • Andrea Peris

    Andrea Peris

    Communications coordinator at the Paraguayan Road Association, Paraguay

  • Claudia Berkowitsch

    Claudia Berkowitsch

    ASFINAG Bau Management GmbH, Austria

  • Sena Peace Hounkpe Wendeou

    Sena Peace Hounkpe Wendeou

    Civil Engineering Expert and CEO of HORSE IC, Benin

  • Shakira Crandol McMillan

    Shakira Crandol McMillan

    Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at FHWA (Federal Highway Administration), United States

  • Patrick Malléjacq

    Patrick Malléjacq

    Secretary General at PIARC World Road Association, France

  • With support from

    Justin Ward

    Justin Ward

    Head of Policy and Technical Practice at CIHT- Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation, United Kingdom

Resources

Here are some of the resources that are available regarding gender inclusion and diversity:

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