EU Statement – UN Commission on the Status of Women: Women’s economic empowerment in the changing world of work

Chair,

Distinguished panellists,

I am honoured to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

Women’s economic empowerment and gender equality – including in the world of work, are prerequisites for sustainable economic growth, achieving the goals set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the full realization of human rights. We, therefore, welcome this opportunity to review our progress made on the Agreed Conclusions of CSW61.

To fulfil the commitments set out in the Agreed Conclusions, we continue to stress the importance of quality education, employment, including decent work and support for entrepreneurship, as well as gender-responsive social protection, care, social and health services.  

Women continue to carry out a disproportionate share of unpaid work, including care in their homes. To address this issue, the EU adopted legislation on work-life balance, creating non-transferable rights to parental leave for both men and women with a view to equally share care responsibilities. Moreover, investment in affordable and quality care services, for children and other dependents, is a priority in many EU Member States’ action plans to address the recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

When discussing women’s economic empowerment, disaggregated data collection and gender analysis, including on the gender pay gap, are central. The EU is also discussing legislation on pay transparency in companies to accelerate the elimination of the gender pay gap.

The EU has also invested in targeted programmes to accelerate women’s economic empowerment globally. Our efforts include both traditional aid modalities and innovative finance frameworks, such as the External Investment Plan (EIP). This plan provides opportunities for women through five investment windows - sustainable agriculture, sustainable energy and connectivity, micro small and medium enterprises, digital for development and sustainable cities.

Additionally, the EU has worked with UN Women and the International Labour Organization to create sustainable, inclusive, and equitable global growth through increased women’s economic empowerment and leadership. The ‘WeEmpower’ programme (EUR 22.5 million), increases public and private sectors’ commitment to gender equality and to women’s empowerment in the world of work in Asia and in Latin America. Through this program, training, mentoring and support reached over 17,000 women-led businesses in Latin America.

Empowering women entrepreneurs is an integral part of the EU-Africa partnership. An example is the Women’s economic empowerment partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), co-financed by a €20 million contribution from the EU to support more than 2,500 African women entrepreneurs.

Chair, 

The recent COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of climate change as well as conflicts in our neighbourhood and beyond, challenge gender equality and call for strategic action and collaboration. Interventions must ensure women’s livelihoods and economic rights. The EU stresses that women’s economic empowerment is both a prerequisite for gender equality and a consequence of it.

I thank you.