LABOR

Gender equality. In the framework of the Conference of Ministers of Labour of Ibero-America, officials from seven Latin American countries signed March 4 in Colombia the “Women’s contribution to Agenda 2030: Measures for the full social protection of women in Ibero-America” pact. The agreement seeks to strengthen policies on gender equality and reduce the wage gap in the region, focusing on delivering Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality. Meanwhile, between June 3-6 the Women Deliver Conference will be held in Canada, the largest of its kind on the world stage to address gender equality and health, rights and well-being of girls and women.

Among the agreement’s core elements is the promotion of the International Coalition for Pay Equity (EPIC), a commitment to fight the gender wage gap, promotion of affiliation to the social security system of informal women workers and the mainstreaming of gender perspectives in employment.

The pact was signed by the vice-presidents of Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic and Guatemala. It was also signed by heads of ministries in Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay and Panama.

The initiative has the support of world leaders and international organizations, among them the United Nations (UN), which, from March 11 to 22, held the 63rd Commission on the Status of Women (CSW63).  María Fernanda Espinosa, president of the UN General Assembly, stressed the importance of gender equality during the UN Women event. She said: “We need more women in politics, of all ages, from grassroots movements to the highest levels of government”.

Next steps

In line with the agenda for gender equality in the region, the Women Deliver Conference will be held in Vancouver, Canada, from June 3 to 6. The event, which will bring together more than 6,000 world leaders, international organizations, academics and activists, will address different issues related to health, nutrition, economic and political empowerment and human rights for gender equality and equity.