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INTERVIEW - Élisabeth GUEYE, gender and human rights expert, on the theme of International Women's Rights Day 2024
What is the relevance of the theme of International Women's Rights Day (IWD) 2024, "Invest in women: accelerate progress"?
Investing in women is both an economic imperative and a human rights issue. It is the surest route to gender equality, poverty eradication and inclusive economic growth. Promoting women's economic empowerment has never been more urgent, as this year's IWD theme demonstrates. Although significant progress has been made, women still face considerable obstacles to achieving equal participation in the economy.
One of the biggest obstacles to achieving gender equality by 2030 is the alarming lack of funding, with a staggering annual shortfall of US$360 billion in spending on gender equality measures. At the current rate of progress, more than 342.2 million women and girls will still be living in extreme poverty by 2030. Without equal access to education, employment opportunities, financial services and literacy, how can we hope to achieve equality between men and women?
The commemoration of International Women's Rights Day is therefore an opportune moment for reflection and the search for solutions to improve the condition of each and every woman, while at the same time highlighting how far we have come. Based on the priority theme of the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, IWD 2024 examines pathways to greater economic inclusion for women and girls everywhere.
What is LuxDev doing to contribute to greater economic inclusion for women and girls?
LuxDev pays particular attention to taking gender equality into account in its interventions. Together with its implementing partners, the Agency strives to create an environment and framework conducive to the participation and involvement of all social groups (particularly women) in the interventions supported.
With a view to leaving no one behind, LuxDev's economic empowerment programmes also target the poorest women, often in partnership with local and civil society organisations. The most marginalised groups include rural women, migrant women and low-skilled women. Our objectives are to provide them with higher incomes and greater access to and control over resources.
As an expert in gender and human rights, do you have any key messages to convey on this day?
There is no miracle solution for increasing women's economic empowerment. Achieving it requires specific policies from public authorities, a holistic approach and a long-term commitment from all those involved in development. Giving women more equitable access to resources and services - land, water, technology, innovation, credit, banking and financial services - will strengthen their rights, increase agricultural productivity, reduce hunger and improve economic growth. Infrastructure programmes must be designed to ensure that poor women and men can maximise the benefits of roads, transport services, telecommunications, energy and water.
When it comes to paid work, women face barriers at almost every level. Their employment opportunities must be improved. Innovative approaches and partnerships are needed to scale up efforts to empower women economically.
In conclusion, we must ensure that women and girls have equal opportunities to develop their capacities and strengthen their ability to learn, earn and lead.
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