When women are
better off, the world becomes a better place for everyone. To this end, 193
countries have included gender equality as one of the key elements in the
recently adopted 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda. As a
result, the seventeen sustainable development goals include gender-sensitive
goals, while the fifth goal clearly and explicitly states "achieving
gender equality and empowering all women and girls". It includes six
purposes and three means to achieve this.
Although
progress has been made in areas such as education and maternal mortality, the
world has been unable to bring the rate of women's employment, income, and
working conditions into line with those of men. Globally, the labor force
participation rate of women is 50 percent compared to 77 percent for men. But
having more women in the job market is not enough, but the quality of jobs is
the ultimate goal.
Throughout the
world, women earn about 77 percent of what men earn and remain the primary
responsibility for household chores and family responsibilities. While 51
percent of ILO member states grant maternity leave of at least 14 weeks,
millions of women do not have this basic right to adequately protect maternity.
Many women are
at risk of violence at home and work. Violence at work affects a woman's
ability to find and retain employment, as well as her productivity. The
representation of women in decision-making positions at work is low. Although
it manages more than 30 percent of all companies, this tends to be concentrated
in small and micro enterprises, as only 19 percent of the boards of directors
of larger companies are occupied by women. And 5 percent or less of the CEOs of
the world's largest companies are women. There is a lot to do.
Realizing the full potential of the world:
Cultural
traditions and economic conditions are not a justification for discrimination
and other fundamental human rights violations. Countries, whether high or low
income, can no longer afford not to invest in the social and economic potential
of gender equality. Recent research shows that women's participation in the
economy at a rate similar to that of men increases global GDP in 2025 by $ 28
trillion, or 26 percent. And when the money talks, people must listen to these
extraordinary numbers.
Ambitious
policies must be developed that succeed in changing gender norms and
relationships in society and work and thus address structural inequality. The
ILO Conventions on Equality (which address discrimination, equal pay for work of
equal value, maternity protection, work and family measures, including parental
leave, as well as the provision of quality social care services at affordable
prices to dependents of family members) is a road map for work. It also
promotes recently developed standards of particular importance for decent work
for domestic workers, creating floors for social protection and regulating the
informal economy.
The number of
countries adopting public policies that address the root causes and
consequences of gender inequality and discrimination in all areas of life is
increasing. "Care sharing" was the main focus of these actions.
For example,
following a campaign to increase the attendance rate of parents during
childbirth in Chile, the proportion of women who reported having a partner
during their birth, who is often the father, increased from 20.5% in 2001 to
71% in 2008. In France, it is granted Pregnant partners leave to attend three
medical exams. Paraguay recently increased the period of paternity leave from 3
to 15 days. The Productive Protection Network program in Ethiopia includes the
provision of pregnancy and breastfeeding leave and provides flexible nurseries
and hours of work so that parents can strike a balance between work and
childcare.
There will be no real equality between the sexes until a woman is appropriately valued. Actions are being taken to address this issue. In Portugal, for example, a tripartite sectoral committee devised a job evaluation method that helped reduce the gender pay gap by tackling discrimination against women in jobs that often dominated them. By law, the Netherlands protects the working conditions of part-time marginal workers, the majority of whom are women.
Appraisal of women's work:
There will be no real equality between the sexes until a woman is appropriately valued. Actions are being taken to address this issue. In Portugal, for example, a tripartite sectoral committee devised a job evaluation method that helped reduce the gender pay gap by tackling discrimination against women in jobs that often dominated them. By law, the Netherlands protects the working conditions of part-time marginal workers, the majority of whom are women.
The ILO plays
a leading role in guiding the shift towards achieving gender equality in the
workplace. In preparation for the centenary of the International Labor
Organization and as a major component of its involvement in achieving the
sustainable development goals, it launched the centenary initiative for women
in action.
As Guy Ryder,
Director-General of the International Labor Organization said on International
Women's Day: "Promoting decent work opportunities for women is imperative
now and for the next generation ... It is a question of rights, what is right
for women and sustainable development."
Goal 5 is
achievable. The evidence for this is abundant, as are the obligations. It is
time to take the necessary measures and invest in women.