UN Commission on Status of Women (CSW69)

Conference

Side Event: Collectively Transforming Care Systems with A Multi-Sectoral Approach 

It’s commonly recognised that care is fundamental with multiplying benefits to the well-being and prosperity of individuals, societies, economies and ecosystems. Yet, the undervalued and gender division of unpaid and paid care work remains one of the key barriers in advancing gender equality around the world. Unpaid domestic and care work is valued at an estimated USD 11 trillion, and around nine per cent of global GDP (ILO, 2018). Beyond its economic value, unpaid and paid care work is essential for the functioning of economies, societies and political systems, and a key driver of social and economic, and even environmental transformation with proven multiplier effects to accelerate progress across the Sustainable Development Goals.

Major global transformations underway – particularly population ageing – have important implications for care needs in the future. As the number of older persons rises, shifting family dynamics and personal aspirations challenge the assumption that women will be available to fill gaps in the care systems as they have in the past. Transforming care systems is urgently needed, especially in rural communities, with local frameworks that recognise, reduce, redistribute, and reward care work through diverse and inclusive representation.

The side event will provide a platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and best practices in transforming care systems in rural realities

Panelists:

• • Amber Parkes UN Women, New York, Policy Specialist / Care Economy

• • Damaris Ruiz, We Effect, Director Central America

• • Gisela Strand, SIDA, Sweden, Senior Policy Specialist on Gender Equality

• • Jeanette Kindipan Dulawan, Oxfam Filipinas, gender Justice Programme Manager

• • Wenyan Yang, Chief, Global Dialogue in Social Development Branch, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, UNHQ, New York. Moreover, Chair of COPAC

• • Xiomara Nunez de Céspedes, Chair of Gender Equality Committee, International Cooperative Alliance

• • Moderator: Maria Johansson, We Effect, Global Gender and Conflict Advisor

Since 2014, We Effect, with support from Sweden, advanced the care agenda together with cooperatives, feminist organisations, academia, and multilateral organisations such as UN Women. We Effect, in collaboration with Sweden, the International Cooperatives Alliance in Europe and the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC), is organising this side event at the Commission on the Status of Women to demonstrate the important contribution of multi-stakeholder support – civil society such as cooperatives, governments and multilateral actors – in sustaining transformative care systems in rural realities