Empowerment, Equality, and Inclusion: Women in Decision-Making Systems

A view of the 'Factory Hall' at the World Trade Institute, University of Bern © World Trade Institute, University of Bern - On Friday, February 23, 2024, the World Trade Institute (WTI) of the University of Bern will host an international conference on women's economic empowerment. The conference will bring together 16 international experts to discuss a UN recommendation and develop a subsequent workshop recommendation. The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is expected to adopt this recommendation in October 2024. The University of Bern is the first Swiss university to participate actively in this process. While global statistics indicate that women already hold over 30% of global wealth, persistent barriers and inequalities persist in all'economic sectors, in both developing and developed nations, like Switzerland. Women's equal representation in decision-making processes is pivotal to achieve economic empowerment of women. In February 2023, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) decided as part of its mandate to develop a new General Recommendation (GR 40) to support States Parties in achieving inclusive representation of women in decision-making processes - both in the public and private sectors.