Women must have an equal say, on par with men, in all decision-making systems, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) told countries parties today.
In its comprehensive guidance, officially known as General Recommendation 40 (GR40), the Committee made it clear that ‘equal and inclusive representation’ requires no less than 50-50 parity between women and men. This standard ensures equal access for all women and girls within any decision-making system, including public, private sector, political, economic, and digital spaces.
The Committee stated that previous targets of 30 percent representation are outdated. “Targets of 30 percent representation of women in decision-making are incompatible with the Convention’s core aim of eliminating discrimination against women, as these convey a message that inequality between women and men is justifiable.”
“Decision-making will have real and dynamic meaning and lasting effect only when it is shared at 50-50 parity by women and men
and takes equal account of the interests of both,” the Committee added.
Failing to achieve parity will prevent countries and the international community from effectively addressing urgent national, regional, and global challenges, notably those related to peace, political stability, economic development, climate change, and technological advancements such as artificial intelligence, the Committee warned.
In 2022, women made up merely 16 percent of peace negotiators, and only 33 percent of peace agreements included provisions for women or girls, according to UN Women. The Committee reflected that ‘women remain structurally excluded from conflict and crises prevention as well as peace negotiations.”
Although research suggests that women’s political leadership leads to greater stability and peace, as well as stronger responsiveness to people’s needs, women still held only 27 percent of seats in national parliaments and 35 percent of seats in local governments as of September this year. “Women’s political repr
esentation and civic space are increasingly under attack through restrictions on the activities of women’s organisations and growing attacks and intimidation against women politicians, journalists, and human rights defenders,” the Committee noted with concern.
Women’s economic autonomy is essential to eradicate poverty and build a prosperous and sustainable society. Nevertheless, women held only 28.2 percent of management positions in the labour market, according to a UN Women report. More women than men work in informal and low-paying jobs across less innovative and less lucrative industries, leaving them fewer opportunities to advance to decision-making positions and shape the economy. “They are under-represented, including in decision-making in economic governance architecture, multilateral financial institutions, debt servicing systems, capital markets, the industrial infrastructure architecture, trade negotiations, and public procurement regimes,” the Committee stated.
The rapid digital transition, inc
luding the expanding role of artificial intelligence (AI), is transforming the world, yielding immense potential to benefit humanity. However, the Committee observed that ‘women have been severely under-represented in the development of these technological advances. AI innovations have also shown a tendency to reflect and magnify gender bias and gender-based discrimination’.
The Committee laid out seven pillars of equal and inclusive representation in decision-making systems that frame the guidance of the General Recommendation. Besides gender parity as a starting point and universal norm, the other pillars include effective youth leadership, intersectionality and inclusion of women in all their diversity, ensuring parity across spheres, women’s equal power and influence beyond numeric parity, structural transformation to change stereotyped gender roles, and strong representation of women’s civil society.
Source: Emirates News Agency