UN highlights urgent need for investment in women's economic empowerment
UNITED NATIONS, March 8 (Xinhua) -- UN Women on Thursday issued a stark reminder that significant investment in women is crucial to accelerating economic growth and creating more equitable societies.
"This year's theme -- invest in women -- reminds us that ending the patriarchy requires money on the table," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a message on the eve of International Women's Day, emphasizing the urgent need for financial mechanisms to support women and girls.
The agency estimated that an additional 360 billion U.S. dollars per year is required for developing countries to bridge the gender gap under the Sustainable Development Goals.
"This all depends on unlocking finance for sustainable development," Guterres said, highlighting the critical role of funding in ending violence against women and promoting their inclusion in various sectors.
Closing the credit gap for female-owned enterprises could boost annual incomes by 12 percent by 2030, said UN Women, noting despite their significant presence in the workforce, women often face barriers to owning resources like land and technology, which are essential for entrepreneurship and job opportunities.
Gender disparities, particularly in earnings, have profound economic impacts, costing more than double the value of global GDP in human capital wealth. Nearly 60 percent of women's employment globally is informal, with pay gaps persisting across various demographics, according to the agency.
Violence, conflict, and economic disparities pose significant threats to women's security and economic participation, said the agency, noting the global cost of violence against women is estimated at 1.5 trillion dollars.
UN Women stressed the importance of gender-responsive social protection systems, like cash transfers, in reducing mortality rates among women and enhancing their security and economic empowerment.
UN Woman urged stakeholders to challenge social norms that undermine women's economic contributions and to amplify their voices in decision-making processes.
Related articles
Goodbye to Scotland's answer to Liz Truss: How Sturgeon's short
Humza Yousaf bowed out as SNP leader today after fewer than 400 crisis and gaffe-filled days in char2024-04-30DEI bans: Conservative quest to limit diversity programs gains momentum
A conservative quest to limit diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives is gaining momentum in sta2024-04-30Jogger is left terrified after hair
A New York jogger was given the scare of a lifetime while out for his morning run in Central Park.Br2024-04-301 person was arrested after 3 people were injured in a 'major incident' at a Welsh school
LONDON (AP) — A suspect was arrested Wednesday after three people were injured in a “major incident”2024-04-30Insider Q&A: Avelo Airlines CEO Andrew Levy describes the challenges of starting a new carrier
It’s not easy to break into the U.S. airline industry, which is dominated by four big carriers and a2024-04-30Grant Shapps swerves questions on whether Britain could follow the US by banning Chinese
Grant Shapps today swerved questions as to whether Britain could follow the US and ban TikTok amid s2024-04-30
atest comment