G20-Germany-Hamburg-2017

Improving sustainability
REHMAN ASAD/ALAMY LIVE NEWS
in the world of work, the global economy
could grow by $12 trillion or more by 2025.
This opportunity cannot be ignored.
G20 governments can also support
women to start and grow their own
businesses. The number of men who take
out loans to start, operate and expand their
business is 2.5 times the number of women
in G20 countries. Some gender differences
stem from laws governing inheritance,
property rights and land tenure, but they are
exacerbated by the gender gaps in access to
finance faced by female entrepreneurs.
We look to the G20 to address the
major gaps in support systems to reconcile
work and family responsibilities. The
expectation that women act as the primary
Women do 2.5 times as
much unpaid care work
as men, such as caring
for children, the elderly,
the sick and the disabled
caretakers for families often leads to
women’s exclusion from paid work, as well
as occupational segregation and what the
International Labour Organization terms
the “motherhood pay gap”. Mothers in
developing countries face a 42 per cent
pay penalty. Shared parental leave policies
and affordable childcare are essential to
bridge these gaps and support reorienting
the caregiving balance within households.
Investment in social infrastructure and
social protection is therefore key.
To boost the pipeline that moves girls
and women out of poverty into fulfilling
and valued careers demands increased
technical vocational education and training
and opportunities in science, technology,
engineering, arts and mathematics. G20
members should increase girls’ take-up of
these subjects, overturn stereotypes about
jobs women can do, and develop strategies
to increase the number of women in
technology careers and the green economy.
How G20 can help
There are several ways the G20 can act
now to increase efforts to advance gender
equality in the world of work. Monitoring
the ‘25 by 25’ target is essential, with
action plans and annual reporting on
gender indicators. G20 governments
should actively engage the private sector in
partnership to increase women’s labourmarket
participation and outcomes. The
Women’s Empowerment Principles, jointly
promulgated by the United Nations Global
Compact and UN Women, can serve as a
guide. And G20 leaders should take full
advantage of the robust advocacy and
gender analysis capacity of the Women 20
engagement group, now in its third year
and continuing to get stronger. We urge
all stakeholders to embrace partnership
with the W20, which has a tremendous
opportunity to be a driving force in
supporting G20 members to uphold their
commitments to gender equality, including
the economic empowerment of women in
both the formal and informal economy. G20
Phumzile
Mlambo-
Ngcuka
Executive
Director
UN Women
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
has been United Nations
Undersecretary General and
Executive Director of UN Women
since 2013. From 2005 to 2008, she
served as Deputy President
of South Africa. Before that she
served as South Africa’s Minister
of Minerals and Energy and
Deputy Minister in the Department
of Trade and Industry. She is
the founder of the Umlambo
Foundation, which supports
leadership and education.
@phumzileunwomen
www.unwomen.org
G7G20.com July 2017 • G20 Germany: The Hamburg Summit 131