On March 17th the UN Commission for women entered the 13th meeting of their 11-day long committee session. Their focus was on initiating tangible change through the Platform for Action which was officially adopted in 1995. It’s comprised of 12 core targets:

1. Reducing poverty
2. Increasing education/literacy
3. Improving access to healthcare
4. Preventing violence
5. Inhibiting harm against women during armed conflicts
6. Improving economy
7. Increasing government roles
8. Increasing equitable legislation
9. Promoting human rights
10. Portraying women in a positive light 
11. Environmental protection
12. Protecting young girls

This comprehensive platform is reviewed and amended as necessary every 5 years. This ensures that member states fully adhere to its recommendations. This day’s session focused on the role of women in the economy. Diane Elson, Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Essex, brought attention to the misogynistic policies ingrained in most work environments. These discriminations include sexual harassment, preference to men, or a general absence of investment in women. In fact, more often than not the contributions made by women are overshadowed and hidden. Thus, ensuring fair work treatment is the first step towards an equitable economy.

A few solutions involving technological empowerment have been proposed in order to mitigate this. Corina Rodriguez, researcher at the National Council of Research, contended that AI could be utilized in order to create a new market in various service occupations. It would also “lead to a displacement of the working population to get cheaper labour, particularly in certain sectors where women are overrepresented” (see my opinion on this here). The United Nations recognizes the importance of women in the context of a global economy. It’s absolutely integral to the well-being of a country, financially speaking, for women to be empowered and employed. However, Lekha S. Chakraborty, Professor at National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, warns against completely “targeting women” through economic bonds. Instead, she advises looking towards more “innovative solutions,” that prevent external factors from interfering with the financial aid.

The next topic discussed pertains to the public perception of women. Barbara Ky, director of gender at the West African Economic and Monetary Union, emphasized the importance of “mainstreaming the gender perspective”. Essentially, it’s integral that the media acknowledges, depicts, and frequently focuses on the experience of women. Often, it’s hyper focused on the male perspective, so much so that its female counterpart is left unrecognized. Ky advises governments to include a “gender-related aspect” to all important documents. This is key to accrediting the forgotten work of women. 

The last topic discussed was under/unpaid labor. Marija Babovic, a professor affiliated with the University of Belgrade, has pointed out the gender discrepancies within domestic work. Women are frequently left either severely underpaid or not paid at all. This leaves them with little other opportunities to achieve financial independence. Thus, the 13th meeting of the CFW was an overall success that achieved lively discussion.