UN Women unveils game-changer data: Women’s Economic Empowerment is key for inclusive development and well-being in the Asia and the Pacific region

[Press release]
[For immediate release]

Bangkok, Thailand — As world leaders gather for the United Nations Summit of the Future, a new UN Women report for Asia and the Pacific challenges conventional economic thinking, urging societies to look beyond gross domestic product (GDP) as the dominant measure of progress.

With the generous support of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the report, “Caring Societies, Inclusive and Green Economies in Asia and the Pacific. Unveiling Data to Advance Women’s Economic Empowerment Beyond GDP” reveals that economic growth has not translated into economic empowerment for all women in the region, calling for a new paradigm that recognizes the contributions of all forms of care work to a functioning economy and prioritizes inclusion and environmental sustainability. Care work is disproportionately performed by women. This includes both paid roles, such as nursing or domestic workers, and unpaid roles, such as caring for family members.

The analysis clearly indicates an urgent need to address gender inequality to foster inclusive development. This involves empowering women with greater decision-making power, enhancing their access to productive resources, and reforming gender-blind norms and systems. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we must actively support women’s economic empowerment. This entails tackling the root causes of gender inequality by transforming care systems, creating decent job opportunities, and fostering gender-responsive climate action in both business and society.

The report urges a paradigm shift beyond GDP and a growth-centric approach, advocating instead for measures that prioritize the well-being of people and health of the planet. The Asia and the Pacific region can experience inclusive growth and create a more prosperous future for all by recognizing, reducing, and redistributing care work, investing in quality care services, promoting decent work and financial inclusion, and supporting women's economic and political participation, including in climate-action.

“This report challenges all of our perceptions around the importance of care,” says Christine Arab, Regional Director of UN Women Asia and the Pacific. "It’s time to recognize that a truly thriving economy is one that values care, prioritizes the well-being of its people, and safeguards our planet for generations to come."

To catalyze progress towards a more equitable future, the report calls on policymakers to address the limitations of GDP and more fully capture all economic activities, human welfare, and sustainability. To do so, the report calls for increased investments in quality, reliable and timely gender data. This data is vital to enable governments, the private sector and other stakeholders to take actions to lift the barriers to women's economic empowerment and accelerate progress towards a more prosperous and equitable future for all.