Hey there, world changers! 🌎 Did you know that investing in women could be the game-changer we've all been waiting for? The United Nations just dropped some major news: pouring money into women's economic empowerment isn't just fair—it’s smart economics! 💪💰
On Thursday, UN Women reminded us that boosting investment in women is crucial to kickstarting global economic growth and making societies more equal. \"This year's theme—invest in women—reminds us that ending the patriarchy requires money on the table,\" said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the eve of International Women's Day. 💃✨
Here's the deal: Developing countries need an extra $360 billion per year to close the gender gap under the Sustainable Development Goals. That's a big number, but the payoff is even bigger! \"This all depends on unlocking finance for sustainable development,\" Guterres emphasized, highlighting how crucial funding is to end violence against women and include them in every sector.
Imagine this: closing the credit gap for female-owned businesses could boost annual incomes by 12% by 2030! 🚀 Yet, even though women are rocking the workforce, they still face roadblocks when it comes to owning land, accessing tech, and getting opportunities to shine as entrepreneurs.
The gender earnings gap isn't just unfair—it's costing us big time. We're talking more than double the value of global GDP in human capital wealth! 😱 Plus, nearly 60% of women's jobs worldwide are informal, and pay gaps are still a thing across different groups.
Violence, conflict, and economic inequality aren't just buzzwords—they're real threats to women's safety and their chance to thrive economically. The global cost of violence against women? An estimated $1.5 trillion! 🥺
But there's hope! UN Women is shouting out the importance of gender-responsive social protection systems, like cash transfers, to reduce mortality rates among women and boost their security and empowerment. 💖
So what's next? UN Women is calling on all of us to challenge the social norms holding women back and to amplify their voices in decision-making. It's time to step up and support our sisters, mothers, friends, and colleagues—because when women rise, we all rise! 🌟
Reference(s):
UN highlights need for investment in women's economic empowerment
cgtn.com
