UN Women forum calls for more women in the workplace

Alexandra Szydlowska
WVoN co-editor

The United Nation’s gender equality organisation UN Women is launching a new forum to discuss how women’s participation in the workplace can aid global economic recovery.

UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet will participate in roundtable discussions with the Economic and Social Council, to highlight the role that women play in stimulating economic recovery and growth.

According to Ms Bachelet: “There can be no sustainable recovery for the global economy without the full and secured secured participation of women in generating that recovery.

“Empowering women economically is not only the right thing to do, it also makes good economic sense. Women could constitute half of humankind’s workforce and are therefore at the centre of any solution.”

According to research conducted in 83 countries, women earn between 10 and 30 per cent less than men and tend to spend more time in unpaid employment.

Initiatives discussed will include women’s access to education, jobs, agricultural land, work initiatives, social protection and other resources to help boost large scale employment for women.