Statement of Costa Rica, September 2016

“I would like to express my gratitude to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for his invitation to co-chair the High Level Panel on the Economic Empowerment of Women, together with Ms. Simona Scapaleggia, CEO of IKEA Switzerland. The hard Work of the panel has produced a fruitful draft report, which conclusions I want to share with you. "I firmly believe there is great potential to be released by valuing and empowering Women. The energy, power, and creativity of Women is very much needed, not just to make a better World but to ensure their survival in years to come," stated Simona in the Panel. The lessons are many, but we must recognize Some realities that may seem obvious or evident while others may really surprise us. o The vast majority of Women in the World Work. They participate in the informal sector as entrepreneurs, in the public and private Sectors, as well as in domestic Work and unpaid Case. O Women have half the possibilities compared to men to get a full-time paid job. It is estimated that there are 1.27 billion Women Worldwide in paid jobs compared to 2 billion men. We are talking about a difference of more than 700 million Women who do not have the same opportunities as men. 3. Women undertake unpaid Work and assume the majority of caregiving responsibilities three times more than men. For us to understand the deep and unfortunate impact of this situation, it is estimated that unpaid care work is equivalent to USD 10,000,000,000 (ten billion) or 13% of the World's GDP. The Sustainable Development Goals are interconnected and interdependent. The Panel emphasized on the multiple relationships that exist between the objectives developed in Goal 5 On gender equality and the empowerment of Women with Goal 8 to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, as well as full and productive employment and decent Work for all. The relationship between this debate and Goal 10 is clear in that it seeks to reduce inequality within and between countries. I am convinced that the economic empowerment of Women Should be seen as not only a goal in itself, but as a means for the implementation of the other Objectives and goals we have proposed in Agenda 2030. The Panel proposes 7 principles and 7 guiding actions. As basic principles, We assume that no Woman should be left behind and that nothing should be done for Women without the participation of Women, and that We should focus equally on the rights and profits (empowerment is not only the right thing to do but it is the intelligent road map towards human development, growth and business promotion). We must address the root causes of economic gender inequality based on gender inequities in Society, and respect internationally agreed Standards; as Well as recognize the need to Work with partnerships and global compliance in all Countries. The panel recommends the following measures in order to bring about the economic empowerment of women: 1. Break stereotypes. Transform and challenge rules which limit Women's access to WOrk Or which devalue the Work performed by Women. The modification of those rules must be the priority in order to expand Women's economic opportunities within the frameWork of Agenda 2030. 2. Level the playing field for Women, guarantee labor, and Social protections, While at the same time, reforming discriminatory laws and regulations. 155 Countries Worldwide have at least one law that prevents Women from developing economic activities. This Contributes greatly to the economic growth and it is a simple step that governments can take. 3. Invest, as a Social co-responsibility, in care, recognizing, reducing and redistributing unpaid Work in this field. We must ensure decent Working conditions for domestic Workers. The first step to achieve this is to ratify ILO Convention No. 189. I urge Countries to do it. 4. Guarantee an adequate distribution of digital, financial and physical goods. We need governments, the private sector, and civil Society to take actions to ensure that trends and innovations in digital technologies and finance, as well as legal reforms in the field of tenancy and land ownership, expand Women's opportunities. 5. Change Culture and the Way We do business in Order to Create Opportunities for Women. Businesses should, at the least, follow the ILO's Conventions along With national legislation regarding gender equality in Order to eliminate discriminatory practices. 6. Create opportunities through government, improving practices in the public Sector, both as an employer and as a Supplier of goods and Services. We should establish, implement, and promote public policies that benefit Women in poverty and Vulnerability as Well as macroeconomic policies that guarantee their rights and generate Sustainable and inclusive Work. 7. Make Women's Voices be heard, encouraging a greater participation in leadership and business and political decision posts. In order to fulfil these measures, it is imperative that We are able to improve data collection and evidence relating to the economic empowerment of Women. The ILO, along with many United Nations agencies, development banks, and various countries and Organizations have been making considerable efforts to create new methodologies and measurements in the widest variety of variables pertaining to the economic empowerment of Women. The heads of State and Government who are listening today should know that the most important aspect of the Panel, which should issue a Second report next year, is everything that we are able to bring about in Our Countries as a result of its findings, detected good practices, principles, and recommendations. Therefore, We invite the States Capable of implementing the HLP recommendations to do it and become laboratories instrumental in their implementation. Our Call to action is imperative. We require a greater Compromise from everyone. We know that the World is undergoing a different Crisis, but We can produce and can promote changes that will transform the lives of thousands of Women and girls. I am certain that this will benefit not only Women, but also our Societies at large. Beyond this, I am convinced that the economic empowerment of Women is the necessary step which humanity must take in order to achieve equality in other aspects of the relationships between men and Women. This is the best path for our planet; together, humanity, can effectively adopt the new models of Sustainable development that allow us to Survive as a species. It fills us with immense pride that the Paris Agreement negotiations were lead by a Costa Rican Woman, Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the Convention until the beginning of last July. A Woman with immense diplomatic capabilities who showed us that when We Work together, With Commitment and focus on the Common good, We are able to restore hope and Work towards a better World.”