Overview of PIARC
PIARC is a non-profit, non-political international organization established in 1909. Currently, the governments of 128 countries are members, and 50 countries have set up their own national committees. PIARC’s membership is diverse, including local governments, universities, companies, and individuals. The purpose of PIARC is to share knowledge, policies, and practices in the field of road transport. Approximately 1,900 experts from over 80 countries participate on a voluntary basis, forming 23 committees that address various topics in the road transport sector. These committees operate according to plans set every four years.
Background of PIARC’s Efforts on Gender Inclusion and Diversity
Although the road transport sector is said to be male-dominated, PIARC identifies “Gender Inclusion and Diversity” as a core value of the organization. This is not only because it is the “right thing to do,” but also because statistical evidence shows that organizations with greater gender diversity achieve better outcomes.
Current Projects
Establishing “Gender Inclusion and Diversity” as a Core Value
Efforts related to gender have been revitalized within the organization, mainly led by members from the USA and Sweden since around 2020. In 2022, “Gender Inclusion and Diversity” was officially set as a core value of PIARC, and the organization is preparing to implement a Code of Conduct that includes behavioral guidelines to promote this core value. Specifically, PIARC has developed a strategy to embed the core value and has established a reporting system to annually review actions taken based on this strategy.
Building Organizational Structures to Incorporate Gender Perspectives
The “Performance of Transport Administrations” committee, one of PIARC’s committees, leads efforts to ensure that gender perspectives are reflected in the activities of all other committees. For example, committees working on road safety are encouraged to consider differences in driving behavior and accident rates between men and women, while committees investigating tunnel fires and accidents are urged to analyze differences in responses by gender during incidents. This committee is also engaged in research and analysis to establish recommendations to improve workplace environments, including considerations of “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI),” and published a report in 2023.
https://www.piarc.org/en/activities/PIARC-Directory-Technical-Reports/PIARC-Technical-Reports-2024-2027 https://www.piarc.org/en/order-library/41809-en-It%C2%B4s%20All%20About%20People%20%E2%80%93%20Defining%20and%20PromotingDiversity%20and%20New%20Talent%20Management%20-%20TechnicalReport
Furthermore, each committee within PIARC has designated personnel responsible for gender issues and is working to promote the core value within their committees. Supported by the USA, Sweden, Australia, and the UK, PIARC has also developed and provides a mandatory gender training (about three hours) for all members.
Hosting International Conferences
PIARC holds an international Congress every four years. At the World Road Congress held in Prague in 2023, sessions and networking events focusing on “Gender Inclusion and Diversity” were organized. The next conference is scheduled for March 2026 in Chambéry, France, where similar events are planned.
Project Outcomes and Evaluation
In the latest internal survey conducted among members in 2024 (held every two years), there was a significant increase in the proportion of respondents who answered “yes” to questions such as “Women are sufficiently respected,” “Discussions on gender are taking place within the organization,” and “There are opportunities to consider gender perspectives in technical work within committees” (increases of 10%, 30%, and 21%, respectively). In the same survey, 85% answered “no” to the question about whether they had experienced or witnessed gender bias within the organization. On the other hand, 2.2% reported having experienced or witnessed gender bias and have become less willing to continue their activities at PIARC as a result. PIARC recognize that this figure is still too high and believe further improvement is necessary.
A persistent challenge is the high proportion of men in each committee and among leadership. Since the dispatch of experts to committees is left to each country, PIARC cannot directly control the proportion of women in the committees. Currently, women make up about 25% of all committee members, which is still insufficient. In this male-dominated field, it is important to continuously explain why the participation of women and diversity are essential.
Outlook
PIARC believe that efforts on gender and diversity are ongoing and have no end point. Since PIARC is mainly run by volunteers who are very busy, continued effort is needed to ensure the organization’s core messages reach all members. My message is the importance of “leadership by example” and “sharing positive cases.” I believe that repeatedly sharing positive examples is the key to driving change.