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No empowerment without rightsA wide variety of actors—bilateral and multilateraldonor agencies, governments, civil societyorganizations and, more recently, the privatesector—have embraced the goal of women’seconomic empowerment. Some see in womena largely untapped market of consumers, whileothers speak about the opportunity of ‘unleashingthe economic power and potential of women’ 5 asa means to solve the lingering problems caused bythe global financial crisis and stalled growth.Synergies between women’s economicempowerment and wider prosperity clearly needto be nurtured. Increasing women’s ownership andcontrol over agricultural assets and productiveresources is likely to have a positive impact on foodsecurity and livelihood sustainability for the wholehousehold. 6 Women’s participation in the workforcecan enhance the competitiveness of exportindustries. 7 A fundamental question, however, iswhether the presumed ‘win-win’ scenarios actuallyexpand women’s own practical enjoyment of theirrights or simply harness women’s time, knowledgeand resourcefulness to serve development ends,with no benefit to women themselves.Without a monitoring framework solidly anchoredin human rights, it is difficult to know whetherclaims of empowering women stand up to scrutiny.Human rights standards—set out in a range ofinternational treaties to which the great majorityof governments have voluntarily signed up—provide a framework of binding principles to whichcountries must be accountable, irrespective of theireconomic, social and political characteristics. Itis a framework that is centred on the rights andfreedoms to which all are entitled by virtue ofbeing human. This Report therefore underlines thecentrality of women’s human rights as both the‘end’ and an effective ‘means’ of development. 8Indivisible rights, synergistic policiesThis Report also underlines the indivisibility ofrights. The focus is on women’s socio-economicdisadvantage, but economic, social, civil andpolitical rights are deeply intertwined. When awoman leaves an abusive relationship, she wantsjustice but also a safe place to live, medical careand a job so she can maintain an adequatestandard of living for herself and any dependentsshe may have. 9 Her rights to housing, health careand work are distinct but indivisible. Economicand social rights are closely interlinked with allother rights, especially the civil and political rightsthat enable women’s organizing and claimsmaking.Conversely, an enabling economicenvironment is an important foundation for States’capacity to respect and fulfil other rights.Not only are women’s rights seamlesslyconnected, so are the actions that help advancethem. In practice, economic and social policieshave to work in tandem to be effective and toenable the realization of rights. Yet, there is atendency in policy debates to artificially separatethe two. The role of economic policies, especiallymacroeconomic policies, is seen primarily interms of promoting economic growth, while socialpolicies are supposed to address its ‘casualties’ byredressing poverty and inequality.In fact, macroeconomic policies can supporta broader set of goals, including genderequality and the realization of human rights.Macroeconomic management is essential toensure the availability of resources to supportthe realization of rights and to provide economicopportunities. Conversely, social services,whether provided through government, privateproviders or unpaid care and domestic work,have economic effects. Investments in childdevelopment, education and health improveproductivity and contribute to sustainablegrowth. Social transfers, such as pensions,family allowances and unemployment benefits,have positive multiplier effects on the economy,especially—but not only—during recessions.Chapter overview and report structureThis Report aims to bridge the gap between globaldiscussions of human rights, on the one hand, andthe deliberation of policies to support gender equalityand women’s empowerment, on the other. Bridgingthis divide is essential if public policies are to rise tothe challenge of making rights real for all women.27