4 reasons why gender equality works
Ahead of the 29th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum’s Concluding Meeting, the OSCE is gathering support for the promotion of women’s economic empowerment through its social media channels.
Organized by the 2021 Swedish OSCE Chairpersonship and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, the Forum brings together high-level officials from participating States and international experts, to discuss ways to promote comprehensive security, stability and sustainable development in the OSCE area through the economic inclusion and empowerment of women and girls.
Here are four reasons that show why gender equality works:
1. Educated women lift households out of poverty
Educated women earn higher incomes, participate in the decisions that most affect them, and build better futures for themselves and their families.
According to UN Girls’ Education Initiative, for every additional year of secondary education a girl receives she will earn up to 19% more and invest 90% of this back into her family.
Education for all is a human right. Girls' education strengthens economies and reduces inequality.
2. Sharing unpaid care work benefits everyone
When men and women share unpaid care work, women can join the work force, men can take more part in family life – and the whole economy benefits.
Women spend on average three times more per day than men on unpaid care and domestic work, according to a 2019 study by the ILO.
Only one quarter of managers with small children are women. However, in countries like Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland a greater share of women are found in managerial positions. Why so? Men and women in these countries are close to gender parity in time spent on unpaid care work, and there is access to public care services for children and the elderly.
3. When women have equal pay, the whole economy profits
Equal pay gives women more disposable income and lifts them out of poverty, especially in pension age. It also boosts economic performance as women have more spending power.
The ILO Global Wage Report 2018/2019 finds that the gender wage gap on the global level is still at about 20 per cent.
Accelerating progress will require both political commitment and social transformation. Public policies to enhance education, labour and social protection, and improving social infrastructure must be complemented by shifting social norms and gender stereotypes.
4. Women in STEM open up the future
Equal chances for women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math will help narrow the gender pay gap and design better solutions for needs of women and girls.
According to the European Commission 2020 Women in Digital Scoreboard only 18% of Information and communications technology (ICT) specialists are women.
OSCE stepping up for gender equality
At the Generation Equality Forum in Paris, the OSCE pledged to improve gender equality by taking concrete actions on Gender Based Violence, Economic Justice and Rights and Technology and Innovation. It has also joined the Women Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action (WPSHA) Compact.
This campaign is rolled out as part of the OSCE’s multi-year, comprehensive programme “WIN for Women and Men. Strengthening comprehensive security through innovating and networking for gender equality”. The main objective of the WIN project is to advance gender equality as a prerequisite for achieving and maintaining stable, prosperous and peaceful societies in the OSCE area.
Follow the campaign via #EEFOSCE on OSCE’s Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram and share in your networks.