Commission on the Status of Women

Commission on the Status of Women Background Guide The Commission on Status of Women (CSW) was established in 1946 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Dedicated to gender equality and advancement of women, CSW creates reports on promoting women's rights in political, economic, civil, social and educational sectors, as well as review and appraise progress made at the national, sub-regional, regional and global levels. There are 45 Member States elected by the Council on the basis of equitable geographical distribution: thirteen members from Africa; eleven from Asia; nine from Latin America and Caribbean; eight from Western Europe and other States and four from Eastern Europe, to meet once a year for a period of 10 days. I. The Role of Women in Economic Development With the empowerment of women comes growing economies, the betterment of overall well-being, and a reduction in poverty. 2 A number of studies have shown that increased female labor force participation can have a significant impact on GDP levels. At equal levels of participation among males and females, some countries GDP can increase by as much as 34%. 3 In the United States, for example, increased female labor force participation would increase GDP by 9%, while GDP would increase by 13% in the Eurozone and an astounding 16% in Japan. 4 The United States is actually a prime example of the assertion of this study, since the nation s economy experienced 11% growth in the last four decades due to larger female participation. 5 This percentage in growth is roughly equivalent to $3.5 trillion dollars that was added to the economy due to the inclusion of women further highlighting the immense benefits to larger female economic inclusion. 6 Many studies have also shown that female labor force participation is a key strategy for developing countries to advance and to reduce poverty within their nation. Developing countries that have taken initiatives to further the cause of their women have actually added substantially to the growth of the global economy, at times even surpassing China s contributions to growth. 7 When women are more in control of their income, spending on food, health, and education becomes a higher priority. 8 When nations invest in half of their population in order to elevate their status, those nations experience insurmountable growth. The empowerment of women brings a larger labor force, increased GDP, and increased 2 United Nations Industrial Development Organization, Empowering Women: Fostering Entrepreneurship, UNIDO, 2015. 3 Ibid. 4 Ingrid Vanderveldt, Resolutions: Female Entrepreneurs are Key to Sustainable Global Development, United Nations Foundation, 2014. 5 Ibid. 6 Ibid. 7 Ibid. 8 Ibid. 1

productivity. Finally, women are the key to the reduction of the acute poverty that plagues developing regions. However, oftentimes culture combined with legal and economic institutions obstruct the elevation of women. In 2016 it is estimated that women comprise 39.381 percent of the global workforce, a decrease from the 2005 peak percentage of 40.138 percent. 9 Though certain regions of the globe have made great strides in the advancement of women in the workplace, such as Eastern Europe and Russia, others are lagging behind. 10 These developing post-communist economies lead the world in the proportion of women in senior management roles, 11 while highlydeveloped Western nations have reported some of the globe s lowest proportions of women in senior management roles over the past several years. These proportions range from 43 percent in post-communist Russia, the highest in the world, to 13 percent in post-industrial Switzerland, one of the world s lowest. 12 The increased number of women in the global workforce presents profound benefits. On a national level, the GDPs of developing Egypt and industrialized Japan, for example, could increase by 34 percent and 9 percent, respectively, if the workforce participation of women increased to that of men. 13 Globally, if the employment and wage gaps between men and women were closed, women could increase their incomes by 76 percent, leading to a global value of $17 trillion USD. Overall, the increased incomes for women in the global workforce help to create a better future for not only the woman, but for the woman s family as well. A strong international effort to help women achieve economic success has emerged in recent years particularly in the realm of microfinance. Non-profit organizations like Kiva Microfunds provide women in developing economies with small loans that help them establish their own businesses and in turn cultivate more promising futures for their families and communities. 83% of Kiva s beneficiaries are women in 82 countries around the globe. 14 Since its founding in 2005, Kiva has lent over $900 million USD to women using a microfinancing platform that allows individuals to lend personal money, with the expectation of the loan being repaid by the borrower, to help others abroad. 15 In a national effort to increase the proportion of women in corporate roles, some nations have established corporate gender quotas. Initiated by Norway in 2003, several other countries in the European Union have enacted similar policies with the intention of equalizing gender representation on corporate boards across the continent. 16 Results of data collection between 2004 and 2014 indicate that the proportion of women in board positions increased in all EU countries, with the exception of Spain, that had 9 The World Bank, Labor force, female (% of total labor force), The World Bank Group, 2017. 10 RT, Russia has largest number of female business leaders US study, Autonomous Nonprofit Organization, 9 Mar, 2016. 11 Saab, Maria, The Surprising Countries With More Women in Corporate Leadership Than the U.S.-Or Even Scandinavia, Time Inc., 12 Jun, 2014. 12 Ibid. 13 Azzarelli, Kim and Verveer, Melanne, Close the global gender gap to drive GDP, CNBC, 15 Oct, 2015 14 Kiva, Impact, Kiva, May 2017 15 Ibid. 16 Comi, Simona; Grasseni, Mara; Origo, Federica and Pagani, Laura, Quotas have led to more women on corporate boards in Europe, London School of Economics, 30 Sep, 2016. 2

enacted gender quotas. 17 These results forecast future trends in other regions that will encourage the promotion of women in corporate leadership roles. While quotas exist to support the professional advancement of women, a global gender gap remains. Four topic areas were measured in the World Economic Forum s 2016 report, including health, education, economics, and politics. 18 Though improving, the Middle East and North Africa region had the highest gender gap in the world with nearly 40% of the inequality gap still needing to be closed. 19 Cultural perceptions of women as leaders in this region continue to prohibit and discourage them from participating in the economy, as well as the legal restrictions placed on women in countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa. 20 Entrepreneurship, however, provides one of the greatest opportunities for women to advance and contribute to the overall economic development of their communities, as it promotes independence for women and is oftentimes the path of escape from poverty. In turn, entrepreneurship helps to close the gender gap in developing regions. 31.6 percent of business owners in Bangladesh, for example, are women, which represents one of the highest percentages of any country in the world. 21 However, despite this high proportion, Bangladeshi women are continuously discouraged from owning their own businesses due to a lack of societal support. Although women have made advancements in economic independence throughout developing regions, cultural views still prohibit many women from fully participating in the economy. Despite the progress that women have made in business around the world, further support for women is necessary to guarantee future economic success. Though they comprise half of the globe s population, women represent just under 40 percent of the world s workforce. 22 With issues ranging from poverty, religious and cultural restrictions, and lack of family health care opportunities, women face considerable challenges to fully engaging in the economy, a trend which has shown could have lasting benefits for the national and world as a whole. Questions to Consider: Why are highly-developed nations lagging behind the rest of the world in terms of women in corporate leadership positions? How can countries move past sociocultural barriers to include women in economic development? What are some ways to promote entrepreneurship for women? II. Addressing the Impact of Female Genital Mutilation In approximately 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, it is estimated that there are over 200 million girls and women alive presently that have gone through female 17 Comi, Simona; Grasseni, Mara; Origo, Federica and Pagani, Laura, Quotas have led to more women on corporate boards in Europe, London School of Economics, 30 Sep, 2016. 18 World Economic Forum, The Global Gender Gap Report 2016, World Economic Forum, 2016. 19 Ibid. 20 Mcloughlin, Claire, Women s economic role in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), DFID, Feb, 2013. 21 Sile, Aza Wee, These developing countries have the highest rates of female entrepreneurs, CNBC, 8 Mar, 2017. 22 The World Bank, Labor force, female (% of total labor force), The World Bank Group, 2017. 3

genital mutilation (FGM). 23 While this practice of altering female genital organs, for mainly cultural reasons, is concentrated in these regions, it remains a global concern, due to the migrant population that comes from these areas. 24 Female genital mutilation is considered a violation of human rights under international treaties such as the recent 2016 The Girl Child Resolution (A/RES/70/138), which states that FGM is a violation of the rights of the girl child, 25 or Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the landmark document that protects the human rights of all people, which includes health rights. 26 Though international laws exist that condemn FGM, the practice is still common in many countries, such as Somalia, where 98 percent of girls undergo FGM procedures. 27 Practiced primarily a cultural rite of passage for girls younger than fifteen, FGM is categorized by several different types of mutilation, presents no health benefits, and can lead to complications in childbirth, infections, and mental health issues. 28 In regions where FGM is considered a social normality, the practice is seen as a way to prepare a girl for adulthood and as a method of making sure she maintains her virginity until marriage. 29 This is thought to make the girl more attractive to men who are looking to marry. Although the practice of FGM is executed in mainly Muslim-majority regions, no religious text condones or condemns female genital mutilation. FGM often leads to serious health concerns for girls and women. The surgery itself is oftentimes incredibly painful, for it is often conducted without the use of appropriate anesthesia. 30 Furthermore, younger girls that are resistant are held down by another person as the surgery is performed, leading to fracturing of bones in the pelvic region. 31 Complications that arise shortly after the procedure is performed include tissue damage, hemorrhages, and even shock that can lead to death. 32 Throughout her life, a woman who has endured FGM may encounter difficulties with menstruation, recurrent urinary tract infections, and infertility as further health consequences of the procedure. 33 Another long-term effect of this practice is mental illness; however, little research has been conducted to establish statistics of this newlyrecognized consequence of FGM. 23 World Health Organization, Female genital mutilation, WHO, February, 2017 24 Ibid. 25 United Nations Population Fund, Female genital mutilation (FGM) frequently asked questions, United Nations Population Fund, 27 Jan, 2017 26 UNICEF, At least 200 million girls and women alive today living in 30 countries have undergone FGM/C, UNICEF, Sep, 2016 27 Feminist Majority Foundation, Violence Against Women: Female Genital Mutilation, Feminist Majority Foundation, 2014 28 World Health Organization, Female genital mutilation, WHO, February, 2017 29 Ibid. 30 World Health Organization, Health risks of female genital mutilation (FGM), WHO, 2017 31 FGM New Zealand, Complications of FGM, FGM New Zealand, 2017 32 Ibid. 33 Ibid. 4

Currently, there are 59 countries that have laws against the practice of female genital mutilation, including 26 countries in Africa and the Middle East. 34 While laws have provided a legal framework to combat FGM, they are oftentimes difficult to enforce, due to the cultural normality of the practice in certain countries and the remoteness of many communities. Countries that have some of the strictest laws against FGM are often located outside of the FGM-concentrated regions of Africa and the Middle East. Nations across Europe with higher migrant populations from countries that practice FGM, such as France and the UK, generally have strict penalties for FGM offenders. 35 The legal framework in many European nations to identify and prosecute offenders of FGM is often overlooked and difficult to enforce, due to the shame that many girls feel, and the community and family pressure placed on them. The intensified secrecy of FGM practices by migrant populations as well as the delay of FGM until the girl is outside of the age of detection are two of the challenges that European governments face in the fight against this practice. 36 It is estimated that 180,000 girls and women in Europe are still at risk of FGM every year 37, as well as approximately 513,000in North America. 38 Although the prevalence of female genital mutilation has declined in recent years, 39 the practice continues to affect the lives of hundreds of millions of women. Aside from the health consequences of the practice, FGM points to a greater obstacle that women around the world face: empowerment. Education is believed to be one of the best ways to halt the continuation of FGM, as women become informed through increased literacy rates and increased attention to the changing cultural environment. 40 With education comes an increased ability for women to make independent choices that affect their bodies which leads to many benefits for the individual, family, and greater community. Questions to Consider: What is the international community s role in preventing Female Genital Mutilation as a human rights violation? How can the UNCSW better address the health complications that arise from FGM? Are there ways to maintain the cultural rite of passage without causing harm to girls? 34 World Health Organization, Female genital mutilation, WHO, February, 2017 35 Costello, Susan, Female genital mutilation/cutting: risk management and strategies for social workers and health care professionals, National Center for Biotechnology Information, 15 Dec, 2015 36 Ibid. 37 EndFGM, FGM in Europe, EndFGM, 2015 38 AHA Foundation, FGM is a Reality in the US, AHA Foundation, 2017 39 UNICEF, At least 200 million girls and women alive today living in 30 countries have undergone FGM/C, UNICEF, Sep, 2016 40 Wilson, Ann-Marie, What it takes to end FGM, Project Literacy, 18 Jul, 2016 5