UN Women has expressed its approval of a comprehensive strategy aimed at ending poverty among women,following the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68).
During this session,UN member states made significant commitments to bolster financial resources and institutional frameworks dedicated to eradicating poverty among women and girls globally.The session illuminated the current statistics,revealing that 10.3 percent of women worldwide are living in extreme poverty.
Furthermore, there is a pressing need to accelerate progress towards poverty alleviation to meet the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) by 2030.The Commission’s final document emphasized the crucial role of women and girls, who often act as “shock absorbers” during times of crisis,underscoring the urgent requirement for increased resources to address their specific needs.
Acknowledging the inadequacy of the existing international financial system,the Commission called for reforms to facilitate countries’ mobilization and investment in gender equality.These reforms encompass measures such as debt relief,progressive taxation and targeted allocation of public resources.
Additionally,the document stressed the importance of enhancing official development assistance dedicated to addressing women’s and girls’ poverty,citing a troubling decline in aid with gender equality objectives.The Commission also highlighted the necessity of implementing gender-responsive economic and social policies,advocating for increased representation,leadership and participation of women in economic institutions,as well as the enforcement of core labor standards to ensure equal pay for equal work.A resolution on HIV-AIDS,spearheaded by the Southern African Development Community,was also adopted during the session,calling for heightened investment in gender equality within the HIV-AIDS response.
With CSW68 representing the largest UN gathering on gender equality, the Session witnessed substantial engagement from various stakeholders,including world leaders,ministers and civil society representatives.Looking ahead,attention now shifts towards the forthcoming 30th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,with the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) slated to convene from March 10 to 21, 2025,in New York.
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