CSW68 newsfeed – Director Carlien Scheele shares reflections from New York

Bridging these gaps through formal care services as well as promoting an equal distribution of care activities among women and men will have a spillover effect.

Gender gaps in the labour market participation will close. Income disparities will diminish.

But we must not forget the power of long-standing gender norms and stereotypes. They have a strong influence on the choices we make. And the more we take them seriously in terms of testing our assumptions and dismantling them to give women and men in all their diversity the chance to live more freely, the more our societies will flourish.

In the margins of CSW, I also met with the President and delegation of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) – for which our agency provides evidence and expertise to support a gender perspective into the EESC’s opinions and resolutions.

As ever, however, turning commitments into actions is the ultimate form of accountability.

At CSW the EESC proposed a Declaration: ‘A gender lens on poverty’, with 10 action points. They include addressing: violence against women, poverty, care and health, the empowerment of institutions, equality, anti-discrimination and intersectionality, labour market, leadership, social policy, education, and access to essential services.

I think you’d agree the action points are all encompassing in addressing systemic inequalities.

As ever, however, turning commitments into actions is the ultimate form of accountability.

I hope the next time I am in CSW, the priority issues that are discussed at length this time, will be less urgent. Because of strengthened efforts. Because of better multi-lateral coordinated. And because of significant change. 

In the EU we have seen significant progress where the presence of women in decision making is concerned. This is in large part due to legislation. But still, there are too few women on company boards and in politics even though we have seen marked yet slow progress.

When the issue of “gender quotas” came up during the discussion Dan Juvan, the Slovenian Secretary of State, responsible for Equal Opportunities agenda, stated: “No need to be afraid of quotas. There will always be enough competent women to fill out the quota.” And I fully subscribe to that!

The days at CSW are long and intense. I have been impressed by the openness to listen, exchange and learn from participants at CSW.

This level of willingness for cooperation needs to be maintained beyond CSW.

Gender equality should always remain a topic at the table.

And for that we need well established and resourced gender equality institutions.

On this topic, my colleague Marusa Gortnar spoke at a side-event organised by Estonia on ‘Equality Bodies and other institutional mechanisms for gender equality during the crises: guardians of the equality legislation in difficult times’.

Watch the event here

But we were sharply reminded that in order for this to happen higher investment in gender equality is needed. This means strengthening the institutions, policies and programmes addressing gender inequalities, including in education, employment and equal pay, care, social benefits, and leadership.

As a representative of the CSOs said: “When you invest in women, the economy grows, and society thrives.”

Dovetailing from that, the chair also reminded us that there is no gender equality without economic and financial empowerment and independence of women.

Which led me nicely into my first side event on ‘Financial Empowerment of Women and Girls over the Whole Life Cycle’ organised by the Permanent Mission of Austria to the United Nations, Permanent Mission of Denmark to the UN, and UN Women.

When you invest in women, the economy grows, and society thrives.

Keynote speeches by Ministers from Austria and Denmark, presented some national practices to inspire progress and change for others too.

We came to learn that the Austrian national strategy for financial empowerment includes the fair distribution of household work and childcare while improving financial literacy of women. Additional efforts come from campaigning against gender stereotypes in education, employment, and career choices.

When women are empowered financially, they also empower other women.

Importantly in Denmark, there is a strong call to action for men’s engagement in caring responsibilities. ‘Activate men’ is a movement that is leading the way for overturning engrained gender roles and norms. This is a reminder from what we know from EIGE’s Gender Equality Index 2023: while the gender care gap is shrinking, unpaid care is still uneven between women and men.

As we moved into the panel discussion, I brought to the table the sobering fact that having access to your own income and wealth is an economic right that everyone should benefit from. This should be irrespective of gender and any other characteristic such as migrant status or life events including the birth of children, divorce or loss of a partner, illness, disability, or retirement.

Signing off from day one, I want to share something that a participant from the audience said very succinctly and profoundly: “When women are empowered financially, they also empower other women.”

Next time, I’ll be bringing reflections from the side event on parity, democracy and social justice. Until then! 

Financial independence

Women might seem financially independent just by having an income, but perception belies reality.  It’s much more multidimensional than that.

A violent partner may withhold a woman’s bank card and ID, making her unable to act independently – where her income becomes obsolete. That’s one aspect of gender inequality and financial independence.

And more generally, the gender pay gap is ever present – which only increases with age and eventually becomes the gender pension gap.

Financial autonomy and decision making must underpin every stage of life. One stage impacts the other indefinitely.

Financial autonomy and decision making must underpin every stage of life. One stage impacts the other indefinitely.

I look forward to addressing this today, 11 March in a high level side event on: Financial Empowerment of Women and Girls over The Whole Life Cyle, where I will bring evidence from our new study on which was Financial independence and gender equality: Joining the dots between income, wealth and power commissioned by the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union as one of its priority themes during its Presidency. 

Council Conclusions will be adopted based on the report as well. The report will be published this May.

Women in parliaments

There is no democracy without women. And now, we do not see enough women in winnable seats for elections – in the EU and globally.

Systemic barriers are holding women back from stereotypes to gender-based violence. Which is only slowing the rate of change in seeing a stronger share of women MPs in the EU.

Alongside creating an equitable, zero-tolerance for discrimination environment, we need to see women’s names on electoral zip lists to ensure they accelerate to decision making positions in parliament.

And we need to vote. Use your vote to vote for gender equality.

I will use our evidence to contribute to a high-level event on parity, democracy, and social justice: challenges and progress on Wednesday 13 March.

Unpaid Care

According to our agency’s EU-wide survey looking at the gender gaps in unpaid care between women and men there’s a greater balance of childcare. But there isn’t when it comes to the type of task.

Rather disturbingly, nearly half of women - 49% - living with a partner report assuming primary responsibility for these kinds of essential tasks, compared to a mere 6% of men.

Gender norms and stereotypes alongside a shortage of external care services compound this reality.

The dialogue on care is especially important. Because it is currently a gatekeeper for freedom of choice.

The dialogue on care is especially important.

Because it is currently a gatekeeper for freedom of choice.

Dismantling stereotypes and providing more care services is way of giving women and men more choices in life to take up career opportunities, engage in self-development and ongoing learning – not forgetting time for self-care.

I will be bringing these aspects to a high-level dialogue on care towards the end of my time here on Thursday March 14. 

Expectations

Now that I am here in New York among leading actors and experts, the atmosphere is alive with hope and anticipation.

I expect the side events I will be taking part in to be charged with encouraging practices for reforms and innovative initiatives from one corner of the globe to inspire another corner.

We need the voices of many to learn and lead from each other.

Sometimes it takes side-stepping out of familiar territory to take stronger #3StepsForward for the future of gender equality.