The Final Agreed Conclusions (advanced unedited version) of the CSW61 were announced on Monday.
Barriers that women face in the changing world of work are highlighted, amongst which unequal working conditions, women’s over-representation in the informal economy, their overwhelming responsibility for unpaid care work, gender stereotypes and social norms.
In a world where the gender pay gap still remains at 23%, the Agreed Conclusions encourage the implementation of equal pay policies. They stress the need to ensure that both women and men have access to paid parental leave. The importance of enforcing legal and policy frameworks to end sexual harassment and protect women from violence at the work place is also being emphasized. Women’s access to sexual and reproductive health-care services is put forward as key to enable them to participate fully in the labour force. Finally, the Commission calls for strengthened efforts in both public and private sectors to retain women in the workforce and seek more gender balance in managerial positions.
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In welcoming the Agreed Conclusions, UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said: “This Commission has engaged strongly, comprehensively and constructively over the last two weeks in considering the most effective ways in which to bring about change for women in the world of work. We have heard from all quarters the accepted imperative to put this knowledge into practice. It will take action throughout society; by all those who spoke to represent the commitment of young and older, of civil society and parliamentarians, of men and women alike, to embrace the great promise of finally making space for women to thrive. There has never been any excuse for the inequality that exists. Now we are seeing a healthy intolerance for inequality grow into firm and positive change.”
Read the Final Agreed Conclusions, CSW 61