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UNW Study Material

Agenda - Economic and Political Empowerment of Women

Introduction

Mandate: Definition of UNW

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women, is a United Nations entity working for gender equality and the empowerment of women. UN Women works towards justice for the rights of women and girls and focuses on various issues, including justice for the LGBTQ+ community.

The mandate and functions of UN Women consist of the consolidated mandates and functions of the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, the Division for the Advancement of Women, the United Nations Development Fund for Women, and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women. The organisation must also direct, coordinate, and advance the accountability of the UN system in its efforts to advance women's empowerment and gender equality. The goal of UN Women is to "enhance, not replace, efforts by other parts of the UN system (such as

UNICEF⁠

UNDP⁠

, and

UNFPA⁠

), which will continue to have a responsibility to work for gender equality and women's empowerment in their areas of expertise.”

In accordance with the provisions of resolution 64/289, UN Women will work within the framework of the UN Charter and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, including its twelve critical areas of concern and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, as well as other applicable UN instruments, standards and resolutions that address gender equality and the empowerment and advancement of women.

UN Women's main thematic areas of work include:

Leadership and

political participation⁠

⁠

Economic empowerment

Ending

violence against women⁠

⁠

Humanitarian action

Peace and security

Governance and national planning

The

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development⁠

⁠

HIV and AIDS⁠

⁠

UN Women is empowered to

[2]⁠

⁠

support intergovernmental bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, in their formulation of policies, global standards, and norms

help UN member states implement the above standards, standing ready to provide suitable technical and financial support to those countries that request it and to forge effective partnerships with civil society

enable member states to hold the UN system accountable for its own commitments on gender equality, including regular monitoring of system-wide progress

Introduction: Definition of Agenda

Economic empowerment of women entails the ability of women to participate equally in the markets that already exist, their control over and access to productive resources, their ability to find decent employment, their ability to manage their own time, lives, and bodies, and their increased voice, agency, and meaningful participation in economic decision-making at all levels, from the family to international institutions.

Political empowerment of women is a process of increasing capacity for women, leading to greater choice, agency, and participation in societal decision-making. Political empowerment of women can not only help uplift a part of the society as a whole but also make sure that nations have better leaders elected by a greater majority.

Major occurrences related to the agenda

FWCW, Beijing, 1995

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to take part in the Government of his/her country. The empowerment and autonomy of women and the improvement of women's social, economic and political status are essential for the achievement of both transparent and accountable government and administration and sustainable development in all areas of life. The power relations that prevent women from leading fulfilling lives operate at many levels of society, from the most personal to the highly public. Achieving the goal of equal participation of women and men in decision-making will provide a balance that more accurately reflects the composition of society and is needed in order to strengthen democracy and promote its proper functioning. Equality in political decision-making performs a leverage function without which it is highly unlikely that a real integration of the equality dimension in government policy-making is feasible.

Joint Declaration on Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment on the Occasion of the WTO Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires in December 2017

In December 2017, in the margins of the WTO's 11th Ministerial Conference, 118 WTO members and observers endorsed the Buenos Aires Declaration on Trade and Women's Economic Empowerment, with the aim of increasing the participation of women in trade and removing barriers faced by women in entering the global marketplace.

ICPD +5

43. Governments should establish mechanisms to accelerate women’s equal participation and equitable representation at all levels of the political process and public life in each community and society and enable women to articulate their concerns and needs and ensure the full and equal participation of women in decision-making processes in all spheres of life. Governments and civil society should take actions to eliminate attitudes and practices that discriminate against and subordinate girls and women and that reinforce gender inequality.

Conventions by ILO

The ILO's mandate to promote gender equality in the world of work is enshrined in its Constitution and reflected in relevant international labour standards. The four key ILO gender equality Conventions are the Equal Remuneration Convention (No. 100), Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (No. 111), Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention (No. 156) and Maternity Protection Convention (No. 183). Conventions 100 and 111 are also among the eight fundamental Conventions and the principles and rights enshrined in those Conventions are found in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

Why is the economic and political empowerment of women important?

1. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goal 5 on achieving gender equality and Goal 8 on promoting full and productive employment and decent work for all, as well as Goal 1 on ending poverty, Goal 2 on ensuring food security, Goal 3 on ensuring health, and Goal 10 on reducing inequalities, depend on the empowerment of women in the economy and closing gender gaps in the workplace.

2. Women’s economic empowerment boosts productivity, increases economic diversification and income equality in addition to other positive development outcomes. For example, increasing the female employment rates in OECD countries to match that of Sweden, could boost GDP by over USD 6 trillion, recognizing, however, that. growth does not automatically lead to a reduction in gender-based inequality. Conversely, it is estimated that gender gaps cost the economy some 15 percent of GDP.

3. Gender equality and true democracy are fundamentally dependent on women's political engagement. It makes it easier for women to participate directly in public decision-making and ensures stronger accountability to women.

Economic and Political Empowerment of Women

And Global Problems

UN Women was founded to further equity and equality for women, in order to better the world. When empowering women in any country, that country then becomes more prosperous and better suited to focus on external problems. Being able to do this allows that country to extend its research, resources, and perspective to issues such as global security, welfare, and hunger. Therefore, it is clear that the economic and political advancement of women can have an impact on world issues. Including a workforce with as diverse views and innovative capabilities as the UNW beneficiaries can go a long way toward ending hardship across the globe. UNW has ambitious goals posted each quarter, and the follow-through rate is almost as impressive.

How the Economic and Political Empowerment of Women Contributes to Ending World Hunger

The presence of females in the agriculture sector is nothing new. Women in many cultures have long had responsibilities in the field, including planting, maintaining, and harvesting crops. However, their work remains unpaid and unrecognized in many parts of the world. In many low-GDP countries, hunger has a chokehold on politics, economy, and most importantly, the citizens. Of the 690 million people who do not have access to adequate food supply,

60%⁠

are women and girls.

[3]⁠

Across the world, women and girls make up 43%

[4]⁠

of the agricultural workforce. However, these workers face challenges such as “less than 1% of women [owning] a seeder, weeder or multipurpose cultivation instrument, compared to 27%, 12% and 18%, respectively, for men.”

[4]⁠

The lack of adequate farming tools decreases the yield of female farmers significantly, and added to the other responsibilities of women and girls, such as children, cooking, getting water, and cleaning, it comes as no surprise that the workday lasts from dawn to dusk.

The important thing to consider when exploring the numerous responsibilities of women in low-GDP areas is that these women are often unpaid. So, families with two working adults, multiple children, and often elderly parents as well, are living off of the minimum wage given to the “man of the house.” These wages are almost never enough to put food on the table. Some examples include, in GNI, or gross national income per year: Niger, $540, Afghanistan, $500, Somalia, $450, and Dominican Republic of the Congo, $580.

[5]⁠

Compare these to the GNIs of United States and China, two economic “superstars” at $70,430 and $11,890

[5]⁠

which are quite different from one another but an extreme contrast to those low-GDP countries. So where do women stand in these economic studies? That question is difficult to answer. In most countries, women work the same or a bit less plots than men, however they own less than 10% of the plots as their male counterparts.

[4]⁠

This ownership is extremely important, because it signifies what these women and girls are getting paid for.

This is where the UNW steps in. By 2030, UNW hopes to: end female malnutrition, specifically by focusing on underfed adolescent girls, those who are pregnant, and elderly women; double output of small-scale farmers and fishers, by securing equal access to land and resources; make production sustainable in developing countries by teaching and securing safe and sustainable practices; and increase investment in sustainable production in low-GDP countries through foreign interest and sponsorship.

[2]⁠

One other measure UNW is in the process of taking includes lifting trade bans and tariffs to further encourage the success of low-income farms overseas.

Indigenous people face the brunt of climate change. They farm the land in much the same way as their ancestors, in a world that is rapidly changing due to growing temperatures. In Peru, where “traditional” farming methods are the norm, a lengthening wet season spells disaster. The crops that are meant to soak up water then store it for long dry periods drown when rain falls for weeks on end, during periods when it did not before. Communities that relied on these crops soon found themselves without, taking countless lives. Atocata, Miraflores, Patachana, Yauca and Tucuta are all under the support and funding of Centro de Culturas Indigenas del Peru (CHIRAPAQ), a subsidiary of UNW.

[6]⁠

Thanks to the assistance of the CHIRAPAQ, hundreds of women are educated, trained, and encouraged in growing crops to meet the needs of their families, and then some. “In the past we only sowed potatoes, we just ate a bit of wheat… We couldn’t afford buying anything. Now I grow my own vegetables and our food is better because I combine it with vegetables. Part of what I sow, I cook for myself and I sell the rest to earn some money,” states Carmen Tenorio from the Yauca community.

[6]⁠

⁠

In another part of the world, UNW is helping Balkan women promote gender equity and equality to better their economies. In Albania, UNW is educating government workers on gender-responsive budgeting tools, which match work and pay with the contributions of the formerly underpaid female farmers.

[7]⁠

In the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, UNW sponsored organization Strategic Development Consulting works to close the pay gap, with special focus on government grants and subsidies.

[7]⁠

Also in Macedonia, the UNW project partner Akciia Zdruzenska is supporting women in their petition for better public transportation.

[7]⁠

This need is largely due to the floods of 2015, which had severely damaged the roads in the area, making the only way to reach the nearest town private vans and taxis—a costly means of transportation for most women. “Women have the right to participate in the local budget decision-making processes and have the right to ask for accountability from their municipality,” says Dzane Kreshova, President of the local non-profit organization, Zenski Forum.

[7]⁠

⁠

How the Economic and Political Empowerment of Women Contributes to Foreign Trade and Transport

When considering the impact of women in the agricultural sector, it is essential to also look at trade. After all, the produce must go somewhere. Three defining abilities of a stable economy are outreach, specialization, and art. This means that when a community has become self-sufficient enough that it’s concentration is no longer solely fixed on getting the next meal, or surviving the next season, it can focus on other activities, including trading goods with other communities, allowing workers to become skilled in making tools rather than requiring all available hands to focus on production, and finally, creating a culture. This section focuses on trade between developing nations. When a surplus of a necessary product becomes available, two options are generally present: save it for later or sell it. While saving is a good idea, selling will help developing nations in the long run. Through business, countries can become allies, and share resources, advice, support, and ideas.

One example of foreign cooperation in regards to women can be seen in Finland. There, the economic and political advancement of women is seen as a top priority. Trade and foreign development are seen as a must. Corporations such as Generation Equality

[8]⁠

work with Finland's willing government to promote gender equality in foreign policy, because, in the words of Finland’s Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Finland Ville Skinnari, “the world cannot afford to ignore the potential of half of its population.”

[8]⁠

In order to better understand Finland’s steps in promoting gender-equal foreign policy, Minister for Foreign Affairs Pekka Haavisto called together an international conference. During this conference, ways to promote female participation in the foreign sector were discussed in detail. The Government Action Plan for Gender Equality 2020-2023 elaborates on the gender equality policy priorities in the Marin Government Programme and details required activities to turn the goals of the Government Programme into reality. These include four policies for the Ministry; which are to defend the rights of women and girls, particularly during Finland’s membership of the Human Rights Council, increase the proportion of 9 development projects that include a gender equality goal towards 85% by 2025, evaluate impacts of mainstream gender equality in development cooperation, and increase the number of experts serving as gender advisors in civilian crisis management missions.

[9]⁠

⁠

On the other side of the globe, in Ecuador, female involvement in trade and foreign relations is more than an ideal, it’s a priority. Here, women work around 15 more hours than men, and this figure can reach upwards of 23 more hours in rural areas.

[10]⁠

However, on average, in urban areas, women make around $421 a month, while men in urban areas make around $524. In rural areas, the gap is slightly less, with women earning around $219 and men earning around $293.

[10]⁠

This disparity did not go unnoticed by the Ecuadorian government. Now, they work to close the wage gap, decrease the underpaid population, and uphold labor laws concerning women; which had previously been ignored. Instituting women in positions in the government seems to be a solution to the gender disparity. Since the admittance of women in office in Ecuador, 57 of the 137 Representatives in this country are female; and 8 out of 36 ministers were female as well..

[10]⁠

These changes bring female leadership to the forefront of politics, drawing attention to problems such as domestic violence, healthcare, and labor rights. These problems are getting solved under the watchful eye of an equalizing male-female governing body.

“When the United States provides benefits through trade preference programs or negotiates trade agreements with countries that discriminate against women or constrain their full economic participation, we are granting preferential market access to nations that restrict full economic access to half their population.”

[11]⁠

This applies to every country: foreign trade makes up around 57% of global GDP.

[12]⁠

This means that of the trillions of dollar of combined GDP, over half of this is due to trade. So, any changes in foreign policy for a single country can have rippling effects on the rest of the globe. Therefore, when a global “superpower” such as the US or China announces a tariff on a country lacking in gender equality, other countries will soon follow, out of interest in remaining an ally of said global “superpower.” This form of large-scale boycotting has encouraged foreign markets to turn towards gender equality. According to the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) 13 of the 14 Foreign Trade Agreements (FTAs) [11] include general protections for all workers; and have been strengthened in subsequent agreements over time. In addition, a growing number of other countries' trade agreements contain gender-specific provisions. Thanks to these efforts, as much as

40 percent of U.S. GDP growth⁠

between 1960 and 2010 is a result of greater gender equality in the workplace.

[12]⁠

⁠

How the Economic and Political Empowerment of Women Contributes to the Increase of GDP in Developing Countries

A developing country is defined as a country with a low Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and high growth rate.

[13]⁠

This means that while the country is relatively poor, its population is quickly growing. This can present opportunities for the development of a flourishing economy. However, with poor leadership, civil unrest, or widespread inequality, these opportunities quickly turn to obstacles that can take years and millions of dollars to fix. Some examples of developing countries include Haiti, which is ravaged by tropical storms that devastated infrastructure; Rwanda, which is plagued by disputes between cultures; and Afghanistan, which is a state of near-constant military presence.

In South Sudan, which is classified as an LDC, or at Least Developed Country, World Vision, a subsidiary of UNW has taken action to support girl’s education. On average, only 18% of girls finish primary school due to gender disparity, conflict, and poverty.

[14]⁠

Thanks to World Vision, 700 children are currently enrolled in school and are provided with school supplies such as books, uniforms, pens and pencils.

[14]⁠

World Vision also worked in a small bakery founded by a young pastor and her grandmother in Lesotho. They wanted to increase opportunities in their low-income community, but lacked sufficient resources. World Vision gave them assistance in the form of updated resources and supplies, allowing the pair to provide food for their community and jobs and training for their youth, who can now open shops of their own, generating more income and creating more jobs. This kind of domino effect is what is needed in developing countries.

It is estimated that gender inequality in the form of pay gaps costs the average economy around 15% of their GDP.

[15]⁠

This translates to thousands, or even millions of dollars lost because women and men do not have equal pay. To solve this problem, governments and organizations invite female leadership, promote equal pay laws, and increase education of women and girls. These problems cannot be solved overnight, however. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development outlines plans to assist LDCs in growing their economies, and keeping them at a rate of constant growth. When developing countries are continually receiving aid in the forms of money or produced goods, they lose opportunities to learn to fend for themselves, and become dependent on foreign aid, which does not continue limitlessly. In this way, it is more profitable for developing nations to receive training and products to make the most of their own resources, and create flourishing economies on their own.

United Nations and United Nations Women

In July of 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created the United Nations Women. This was to better address issues of global inequality, which could not be done before due to unclear leadership and insufficient funding. The UN has long taken a stance against inequality, especially between the races and genders. However, due to the problems listed above, they were confined to aid-based solutions. With the UNW, sub-organizations were able to be formed to focus on economy, politics, and funding. Sub-organizations include: Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI), and United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

[16]⁠

These separate organizations operated under the unifying belief in prosperity for women, in order to equalize global advancement.

In cooperation with governments, civil entities, and other UN organizations, DAW works to end discrimination against women. They work to further integrate women’s concerns into governmental policies. Some main roles of the DAW are research and analysis; collaborating with the Commission on the Status of Women and other UN entities; providing technical support to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, supporting the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which was developed during the 23rd special session of the General Assembly; providing information on gender inequality; facilitating participation in non-governmental organizations (NGOs); and providing technical assistance in developing countries. These tasks all serve to further empower women in the socio-economic sectors of worldwide governments.

[17]⁠

⁠

INSTRAW’s main objective is to produce, manage, and publicize training programs to further specialization for women. This means that, through INSTRAW, trainings are available to teach and certify women in new technologies, preparing them for higher-paying positions, which grant them more respect and elevated recognition. This is important because when these women join the workforce, they are paid a higher salary than they would have been untrained. This brings more money to individual homes as well as into the economy as a whole. The level of advancement in technology and production is one important thing that separates developing countries from the rest of the world. During 2003, INSTRAW has also published two research studies. The first was titled "Overcoming the Gender Digital Divide: ICTs as Tools for Women's Empowerment", is a synthesis of the background papers and discussions from INSTRAW virtual seminar series on gender and ICTs. The second study, titled "Gender, Environment and Sustainable Development: Theoretical Trends, Emerging Issues and Challenges" results from the INSTRAW project on gender aspects of environment management and sustainable development that was carried out by the Institute for the World Summit for Sustainable Development.

[18]⁠

⁠

OSAGI was formed from a unanimous vote of the UN General Assembly on July 2, 2010 in order to better expedite the progress of addressing the needs of women and girls around the world. They do this through the constant progression of three plans: the Millennium Declaration, the Beijing Declaration, and the Platform for Action of the

Fourth World Conference on Women (FWCW)⁠

. These plans seek to further the advancement of women in politics, economics, agriculture, and the workforce. This section of UNW also focuses on Gender Mainstreaming, which is the centralization of gender equality in all aspects of life. This movement is led in part by the Focal Point for Women, which tracks progress and reports it to the UN General Assembly. One other important step made by OSAGI is the inclusion of women in the Security Council mandate, which aligns the safety of women to the overall peace-keeping efforts of the UN.

[19]⁠

⁠

UNIFEM (a division of UN Women) has been a partner to women in conflict-affected areas, bringing them together across political and geographic divides to agree on common positions in peace talks or post-conflict elections, supporting their engagement with security and justice institutions to end impunity for violence against women, facilitating their inclusion in post-conflict planning processes to ensure their needs are met, and fostering their engagement.

With programming that has aided in the advancement of the women, peace, and security agenda in policy and practice, UNIFEM gathers a sizable database of analytical and advocacy work done over the last five years. UNIFEM also works to grow the number of female negotiators in peace councils worldwide. Together with other members of UNW, UNIFEM broadens the reach of women through education, protection, and advocacy.

[20]⁠

⁠

Conclusion

Conclusive Statements

Currently, women do not get opportunities for adequate economic and political participation, and those that exist are restricted to the few that have many resources. It has become more important than ever to bridge this gap, and march towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of 2030. Women in economics will help improve the independence of the gender as a whole, and present diverse perspectives to promote inclusivity in the government, with special emphasis on the development of GDP that it can bring to a nation. Political participation of women will improve the welfare schemes for women living in marginalized communities, and improve the unjust activities that are prevalent against women. Overall, the political and economic participation of women is the key to a nation’s success.

More Work to Be Done

This background guide simply provides you enough information to begin with. We would not advise you to solely rely on the information here. Instead, we would encourage you to delve deeper into the history of your country on this agenda, your country’s stance, policies that are being implemented and will be implemented in the future, and research on any committees that are working on this. We hope you work on a solution-oriented approach, and enjoy the process! Good luck, you got this!