Poverty, women and the economy
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Women constitute half of humankind and 40% of the global workforce. They are a growing proportion of the overseas migrant labour force. As workers, entrepreneurs and service providers they contribute actively to social and economic development.
Yet women’s economic and human rights, their contributions and priorities have been largely overlooked. They are more likely to be unemployed than men, dominate the unprotected informal sector, are more likely than men to be in part-time formal employment in most high income regions, spend more time than men. 1. Women contribute substantially to economic and social development, but are discriminated against. How can we address this? 2. Invest in gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, more jobs and decent work for women 3. Implement development strategies, policies that generate more jobs and ensure decent work for women, particularly in the informal sector 4. Promote women’s leadership in public and corporate economic decision-making and in employer’s and worker’s organizations 5. Promote a culture of equality and shared responsibility between men and women in paid and unpaid care work ResearchWorld Survey on the Role of Women in Development:
2009: Women’s Control over Economic Resources and Access to Financial Resources, including Microfinance 2004: Women and International Migration 1999: Globalization, Gender and Work The United Kingdom specifies a "Gender Equality Duty" for public authorities
The "Gender Equality Duty" effective from April 2007 requires public authorities: "to promote gender equality and eliminate sex discrimination. " Instead of depending on individuals making complaints about sex discrimination, the duty places the legal responsibility on public authorities to demonstrate that they treat men and women fairly. The duty will affect policy making, public services, such as transport, and employment practices such as recruitment and flexible working." How could your country be proactive (and promote equality)? http://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/economic-empowerment http://www.unfpa.org/gender/empowerment1.htm http://www.empowerwomen.org |
Long but superbly detailed film about economic empowerment (UN session)
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