Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls Calls for a Feminist Human Rights-Based Economy to Tackle the Disproportionate Representation of Women and Girls Living in Poverty Globally

The Working Group on discrimination against women and girls this morning called at the Human Rights Council for a feminist human rights-based economy that enabled and constructed substantive equality, solidarity, and socioeconomic and environmental justice, to tackle the disproportionate representation of women and girls living in poverty globally. 

Dorothy Estrada-Tanck, Chair of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, said that globally, women and girls were disproportionately represented among those living in poverty.  The Working Group’s report demonstrated that poverty and socioeconomic inequality were the result of blatant systemic failures leading to a vicious cycle of exclusion and discrimination.  It called for a feminist human rights-based economy that enabled and constructed substantive equality, solidarity, and socioeconomic and environmental justice.  Such an economy included processes and principles that were grounded in human rights.  The report included recommendations to States, international economic institutions and corporations, to negotiate a new human rights-based feminist eco-social consensus.

Ms. Estrada-Tanck also spoke on visits made by the Working Group to Kyrgyzstan and Maldives.  Kyrgyzstan and Maldives spoke as countries concerned.

In the ensuing dialogue, many speakers welcomed and greatly appreciated the report of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls for its inclusive and consultative process, strong feminist and intersectional lens, and critically important recommendations for the global community.   Many shared the Working Group’s concern that women and girls were disproportionately represented among the world’s poor, noting that multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination against this group were still widespread across the globe.  Speakers recognised the urgency of promoting structural changes to ensure that women, adolescents and girls were able to live freely from poverty.  It was essential to address systemic factors that impeded the effective enjoyment of human rights, including economic, social, cultural and environmental rights.  Speakers also emphasised that it was crucial to increase the representation of women in political and social life.

Speaking in the dialogue were Mexico on behalf of a group of countries, European Union, Estonia on behalf of a group of countries, Türkiye on behalf of a group of countries, United Nations Women, Burkina Faso, Portugal, Bahrain, Peru, Armenia, United Nations Children's Fund, Costa Rica, Luxembourg, Japan, Belgium, Slovenia, Israel, Ecuador, Paraguay, France, Spain, Timor-Leste, United Arab Emirates, United States, Mauritius, Australia, International Development Law Organization, Iraq, Colombia, Morocco, Malaysia, Malta, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Cameroon, Ireland, South Africa, Pakistan, Togo, Gabon, Namibia, Kazakhstan, India, Greece, Bangladesh, Malawi, United Republic of Tanzania, China, Iran, Chile, Senegal, Mauritania, Sudan, Albania, Georgia, Benin, Cuba, Russian Federation, Romania, Algeria, Yemen, Botswana, Bolivia, Thailand, Cyprus, Nepal, Tunisia, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Panama, Croatia, Uganda, Ghana, Syria, Germany and Gambia.

Also speaking were the National Human Rights Institute of Burundi and National Human Rights Institute of Mexico, as well as the following non-governmental organizations: Centre for Reproductive Rights, Inc., Sikh Human Rights Group, Action Canada for Population and Development, International Lesbian and Gay Association on behalf of Swedish Federation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights - RFSL, Stichting CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality, FIAN International e.V., Society for Threatened Peoples, Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women, Asociacion HazteOir.org, and Organization for Defending Victims of Violence.

The webcast of the Human Rights Council meetings can be found here.  All meeting summaries can be found here.  Documents and reports related to the Human Rights Council’s fifty-third regular session can be found here.

The Council will next meet this afternoon at 3 p.m. when it will hold an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, followed by an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences.

Interactive Dialogue with the Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls

Report

The Council has before it the report of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls (A/HRC/53/39) on gendered inequalities of poverty: feminist and human rights-based approaches.

Presentation of Report

DOROTHY ESTRADA-TANCK, Chair of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, presenting the report on gendered inequalities of poverty: feminist and human rights-based approaches, said that globally, women and girls were disproportionately represented among those living in poverty.  The report demonstrated that poverty and socioeconomic inequality were the result of blatant systemic failures leading to a vicious cycle of exclusion and discrimination.  Women’s and girls’ inequality and poverty were the result of historical and continuing economic policy choices at the global, regional and national levels.  Policy priorities had been developed within patriarchal systems that ignored the specific experiences and rights of girls and women.  The COVID-19 crisis had also prompted a re-evaluation of mainstream economic ideologies, including recognition of the central role of care in societies, as well as revaluing the State’s position vis-à-vis the market as an actor in defining and resourcing public policies.

In many jurisdictions, criminal laws were disproportionately applied to women and girls because of their economic or social status, and due to the costs of accessing the formal justice system.  Those particularly affected were women and girls living in poverty seeking reproductive health care and services, including abortion; indigenous, migrant and ethnic minority women and girls; women and girls who were experiencing homelessness; women and girl street vendors; sex workers; and members of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex women.  Poverty and gender-based violence, including sexual violence and denials of bodily autonomy, interacted in a vicious, mutually reinforcing cycle.  Women and girls facing sexual harassment at work, violence at home or violence on the streets were unable to participate on an equal basis in the labour market, were discriminated against in connection with contributory social security benefits, and were more likely to experience poverty, violence and homelessness in old age.  The report called for a feminist human rights-based economy that enabled and constructed substantive equality, solidarity, and socioeconomic and environmental justice. 

The right to be free from poverty could not be realised in isolation from individual and collective rights to substantive equality.  The meaningful participation of diverse groups of women and girls in implementing socioeconomic strategies was a core part of this process.  The right to substantive equality also required resource mobilisation and redistribution within and between countries.  Wealthy countries were required to assist low-income countries in the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights for everyone without discrimination to ensure gender equality, and to cooperate to reduce inequalities between and within nations.  The report included recommendations to States, international economic institutions and corporations, to negotiate a new human rights-based feminist eco-social consensus. 

Ms. Estrada-Tanck said the Working Group visited Kyrgyzstan from 4 to 15 April 2022.  She expressed thanks to the Government of Kyrgyzstan for its invitation and full cooperation in facilitating this visit.  The Working Group welcomed the appointment of a woman in the Cabinet as Minister of Health, however, at this moment she remained the only woman amongst the 21 members of the Cabinet. Women’s representation in the parliament and judiciary was at 21 and 35 per cent respectively, therefore not complying with the ideal of gender parity.  The Working Group raised concerns about an increasingly hostile environment towards civil society organizations, women activists and human rights defenders.  The leading root causes and drivers of gender-based discrimination and violence needed to be systematically addressed, especially harmful gender stereotyping and lack of economic opportunities.

The Working Group visited Maldives from 11 to 22 September 2022.  It expressed gratitude to the Government of Maldives for its invaluable support in facilitating this visit.  Women were active in public and political life, and the Working Group commended the parity achieved in civil service.  However, women were significantly under-represented in decision-making and leadership positions at national and local levels.  They represented less than five per cent in the Parliament and 35 per cent in the Government.  The Working Group noted the electoral quota for women in local councils, however, women were labelled as “quota counsellors” and given few or no responsibilities.  The Working Group recommended that Maldives seize the potential of women and girls rather than allow the impact of societal perceptions and rules that relegated women to subordinate roles.

Statements by Countries Concerned

Kyrgyzstan, speaking as a country concerned, expressed its appreciation for the visit of the Working Group against discrimination against women and girls and welcomed its observations.  The State would do its best to overcome the deficiencies.  Kyrgyzstan highly appreciated the activities of the United Nations Special Procedures for Human Rights and cooperated with them.  Since 2020, Kyrgyzstan had provided a standing invitation to all thematic Special Procedure mandate holders.  Kyrgyzstan expressed its gratitude to the Working Group, which noted achievements in strengthening democratic institutions, promoting the rule of law and protecting human rights since independence in 1991.  The country recognised the challenges and would work to solve them.
Maldives, speaking as a country concerned, reiterated the standing invitation extended to all Special Procedure mandate holders.  Over the past four years, the Government had remained committed to achieving gender equality, emphasised through national laws and international obligations.  There was a need to strengthen legislative frameworks in the country by aligning them with international obligations.  Today one third of the Ministerial Cabinet was comprised of female ministers.  Maldives called the Council’s attention to the vulnerability of the country, as a small island developing State, riddled with the impact of climate change, which disproportionately affected women and girls.  Maldives was working to address the identified gaps in the report and was working to improve the lives of women and girls across the country. 

Discussion

Many speakers, among other things, welcomed and greatly appreciated the report of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, for its inclusive and consultative process, strong feminist and intersectional lens, and critically important recommendations for the global community.  The Working Group was applauded for highlighting the structural inequalities that perpetuated and deepened gender inequalities and threatened the realisation of women’s and girls’ rights to fully enjoy an adequate standard of living and other interrelated economic, social, and cultural rights.  Many shared the Working Group’s concern that women and girls were disproportionately represented among the world’s poor, noting that multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination against this group were still widespread across the globe, resulting in gendered socioeconomic inequality and poverty.

A number of speakers believed the persistence of discriminatory and negative social norms and gender stereotypes affected women and girls across all areas of life, from families to communities, in businesses and in all branches of the public sector, and contributed to maintaining and deepening socioeconomic inequalities.  Women and girls continued to experience structural gender discrimination in both formal and informal employment on the grounds of gender, pregnancy and caring responsibilities.  The report highlighted the unequal and inadequate remuneration, precarious employment, lack of union representation, and violence and harassment in the workplace, which were all factors that increased sex- and gender-based inequalities, and entrenched poverty for women and girls.  One speaker noted that universal coercive measures which had cruelly been imposed against the countries of the South by the collective West, negatively impacted women and girls.

Some speakers recognised the urgency of promoting structural changes to ensure that women, adolescents and girls were able to live free from poverty.  It was essential to address systemic factors that impeded the effective enjoyment of human rights, including economic, social, cultural and environmental rights.  States needed to implement comprehensive measures, based on the principles of substantive equality and non-discrimination.  Speakers called for multidimensional reforms, with the full, effective and substantive participation of all women, to strengthen social protection systems, labour rights, access to basic services, the establishment of care systems, and to promote fair fiscal policies, among other measures.  Tackling the root causes of gender inequality required an intersectional, transformative, and human rights-based approach, which placed the principles of equality and non-discrimination at the heart of all action.

Advancing gender equality was a moral and a strategic imperative; when barriers to women’s and girls’ economic empowerment were removed, countries were more prosperous and nations were more peaceful.  According to the World Economic Forum, it would take more than 150 years to close the gender gap in economic participation.  The world could not wait any longer to advance gender equality because the prosperity of the majority of the world’s population affected the prosperity of everyone.  Many speakers reaffirmed their commitment to implement feminist and gender approaches, to prevent and address inequality and intersectional discrimination that were perpetuated by poverty.  Those speaking outlined the steps being taken in their own countries to address poverty with a gender lens, including the development of economic empowerment strategies for women, reducing gender disparities in education and employment, developing women-targeted entrepreneurship programmes, legislative interventions, and establishing institutions which provided support to women and girls, among others.

Among other questions, speakers asked the Working Group how the Council could most effectively support the realisation of gender equality and the full empowerment of all women and girls?  What could be done on a multilateral level and in United Nations fora to advance economic policies so that women and girls everywhere could enjoy the full range of human rights?  What could be done jointly to promote the centrality of women’s and girls’ human rights and gender equality to eradicate poverty and inequalities?  How could alliances to combat poverty and equality continue to be built, while placing women’s rights at the centre?

Intermediary Remarks

DOROTHY ESTRADA-TANCK, Chair of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, in interim remarks, thanked Kyrgyzstan and Maldives for their continued commitment to gender equality.  Member States could further equality goals by ratifying core human rights treaties, particularly the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.  This would enhance women’s possibility to enter the labour market and access social welfare, sexual and reproductive health care, and contraception, among other things.  Working with women and girls and placing their voices at the centre was important, but it was also important to work with men and religious and community leaders.  Member States should find ways to support women-led organizations.  Subsidies should be provided for sanitary products, and these should be provided free of charge in situations of crisis.  Measures should be introduced to increase the role of men in private, domestic life.  Feminist approaches needed to be taken in multilateral, international institutions.   

Discussion

In the continuing discussion, many speakers commended the Working Group on the quality of its report, which shed light on poverty and socioeconomic inequality as consequences of the violation of the rights of women and girls.  The comprehensive set of recommendations provided by the report would serve as guidelines for States to eliminate structural barriers and discrimination against women and girls in political, socioeconomic and cultural life.  Speakers agreed that more needed to be done to address gender equality on a global scale. 

Discrimination was on the rise globally, exacerbated by limited resources invested in women and girls, which undermined aspirations to reach sustainable development goal five by 2030.  It was emphasised that in many regions, women were still disadvantaged economically, socially and politically, and did not participate in decision making, which was exacerbated by poverty.  Wars had consequences, including displacement and destruction of livelihoods, and women and girls bore the brunt of these consequences. 

Obstacles to foreign aid for some States also presented issues when it came to improving the rights of women and girls.   Gender-based discrimination often based on traditions remained a challenge within society, as did stereotypes.  Speakers emphasised that it was crucial to increase the representation of women in political and social life.  Tax on menstrual hygiene products contributed to the poverty of women in many countries; governments were urged to follow the examples of certain States and repeal these taxes with urgency. 

Some speakers said that the promotion of women’s rights in all areas, including empowerment, was a key priority for many governments.  Initiatives being undertaken by some countries included focusing on the political empowerment of women; women’s increased involvement in the industrial sector; special credit schemes for women entrepreneurs; ratifying international frameworks which protected women against discrimination; free education; the establishment of a conservatory analysing violence against women; and implementing electoral quotas for gender parity, among other measures.  Speakers said they were willing to share best practices through regional and global platforms.

Speakers addressed a variety of questions to the Working Group, including how the gender approach could be better integrated into the design and implementation of better policies for social exploitation?  How did a feminist approach to social and economic rights innovate with respect to the obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women? Could the Working Group share good practices when it came to debt adjustment, which had given rise to gender equality policies?  How could women of African descent guarantee equality?

Concluding Remarks

DOROTHY ESTRADA-TANCK, Chair of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, said States had expressed support for numerous policies for women in the dialogue.  Additional, specific recommendations for policies were included within the report.  The report highlighted cross points between gender and socioeconomic equality.  The rights of women and girls needed to be considered when addressing poverty.  Gender equality, human rights and gender parity principles needed to be brought to the table when considering macroeconomic structures.  Women and girls told the Working Group that “they were not poor, but were being impoverished”.  There was a need to address both the “glass ceiling” and the “class ceiling”.  Respondents said that one could not “entrepreneur” their way out of extreme poverty.  There was a need to examine disparities and how to close gaps.  Human rights were tools for good governance.  Women and girls needed to be placed at the centre of socioeconomic policies.  Ms. Estrada-Tanck called on States to place these views at the centre when considering macroeconomic policies and implementing commitments towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Link: https://www.ungeneva.org/en/news-media/meeting-summary/2023/06/le-conseil-entend-un-plaidoyer-pour-une-economie-feministe