W20 Communiqué provides recommendations to expedite economic recovery through the empowerment of women
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA-Wednesday 21 October 2020 [ AETOS Wire ]
Women
20 (W20), the women’s engagement group to the G20, challenged G20
leaders to live up to their promises of the past and make women’s
economic equality a reality.
Laying out measures to expedite the
economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the W20 presented its
Communiqué to H.E. Dr. Majid Alqassabi, Minister of Commerce, Chair of
G20 Trade and Investment, representing the Presidency of the G20.
The
pandemic provides an opportunity for G20 leaders to reset G20 economies
based on the full and equitable participation of women.
“Unless
urgent action is taken, the pandemic will continue to exacerbate gender
inequalities, expose vulnerabilities, and roll back gains made on
women’s equality. Women will be disproportionately negatively impacted
and left to bear the brunt of a multidimensional crisis,” said Dr.
Thoraya Obaid, W20 Chair.
“G20 leaders need to act now. If not
this year, that has exposed the fissures in our cultures, policies, and
public services, then when?”
Key measures G20 leaders should take immediately to expedite inclusive economic recovery:
Ensure equal representation of women at all levels of decision-making in private and public sectors.
Adopt gender-responsive fiscal planning to foster an inclusive workforce.
Increase investment in social infrastructure - like child and dependent
care, healthcare, education and training - to create jobs and build
resilience.
Implement social and income protection mechanisms that capture all workers, particularly in low-income countries.
Stimulate women’s entrepreneurship by supporting the starting-up,
scaling-up, and sustainability of women-owned businesses, particularly
in the digital economy.
Increase access to digital technology
for women and girls, especially in remote and rural areas, through
infrastructure, high-speed connectivity, and skills training.
Partner with public and private financial institutions to develop easily accessible digital financial products.
Fund research and collection of sex-disaggregated data on the course of the pandemic.
The
W20 is concerned about the lack of direct recognition by G20 Leaders of
the impact the pandemic and national responses are having on women. So
far, national relief packages fail to account for the specific financial
and institutional needs of women. The delivered Communiqué addresses
these shortfalls to achieve lasting change for women globally.
Contacts
Omar Ahmad
W20media@apcoworldwide.com
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