The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a great opportunity to put women at the center of economic activity, W20 delegate from Italy, Annamaria Tartaglia, has said.
“The pandemic has made some of the barriers to women and gender inequalities more acute, However, it represents also a cutting edge opportunity to put women at the heart of our economies and societies,” she remarked during a seminar on ‘Women's Entrepreneurial Empowerment through Inclusive Business,’ which was held virtually on Tuesday.
With regard to empowerment, she said, women must return to the world of work and to the center of economic activity that will shape the future.
“There are three things to empower women. First, bringing more women back into the workforce and into the heart of economic activity shaping the future,” Tartaglia said.
Second, building an inclusive society and workplace cultures that dismantle pervasive gender stereotypes, she added.
“Third, smoothing the road for women into business leadership and ownership,” she said.
For Indonesia's G20 Presidency, she recommended five policy matters that could be taken regarding women.
“First, place gender equality at the heart of budgeting decisions by creating inclusive and innovative economic models that work for women and focus on achieving human well-being,” Tartaglia said.
Second, ensure equal representation of women at all levels of decision making in public and private, national and global, political and economic bodies by 2030, and adopt multi-year plans to achieve this goal and monitor progress annually
“Collect, analyze, and report on all areas identified using gender-sensitive and disaggregated data,” she said.
Fourth, develop gender impact assessments, leaving no one behind, in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of all legislative, political, strategic, and programmatic initiatives, including post-pandemic reconstruction plans, and climate change strategies
“Promote education by investing in infrastructure to ensure women and girls have access to and participate in pre-school to tertiary education, including early education; bolster technical and vocational training, digital, financial and entrepreneurial skills, and lifelong learning,” Tartaglia said.
This is to enable women to secure quality employment with continuing education and progression during career breaks, she added.
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