F.
Promote women’s economic self-reliance, including access to
employment, appropriate working conditions and control
over economic resources - land, capital and technology
87. Actions should be taken to provide women with the same access to
employment, appropriate working conditions and control over economic resources
as men. These actions should be seen in terms of other strategic objectives,
including eliminating factors that accentuate poverty and strengthening factors
that promote the full participation of women. They should involve a combination
of actions by Governments, non-governmental organizations and the private
sector, supported by the international community. A gender approach should be
followed in the definition, implementation and monitoring of policies at the
national, regional and international levels, and in the design, implementation
and monitoring of international cooperation.
Secure economic rights for women
88. Governments and private sector institutions should eliminate all laws and
regulations that discriminate against women in economic activities, especially
those that discriminate against rural women, women in the informal sector and
self-employed, in their access to economic resources. Measures should also be
taken to guarantee protection against discrimination and provide the right of
petition for discrimination, including implementation of ILO Convention No. 156
on workers with family responsibilities, and special efforts made to protect the
rights of women migrant workers. Non-governmental organizations and national
machinery for the advancement of women should cooperate to facilitate public
education and awareness, monitor progress and initiate legislative provisions
for enforcement of women’s rights.
Take positive action to give women access to resources, employment and
appropriate working conditions, market and trade
89. Positive actions should be taken to overcome barriers to access to economic
resources, such as targeting women in employment programmes, providing guarantee
loans for women entrepreneurs, especially in rural areas, introducing programmes
and training courses in non-traditional areas of work, revaluing women’s
traditional work and work in the informal sector by improving training in these
sectors and recognizing them in national accounts and national social security
schemes. Access to technology, markets and trade should be promoted.
International financial institutions should include these positive actions in
their programmes and projects and monitor them. The goal of equal pay for work
of equal value should be actively promoted with a view to achieving it by the
year 2000 through such measures as job evaluation and the establishment of equal
pay legislation covering both the formal and the informal sectors. Redress
mechanisms should be set up for women who have experienced discrimination and
monitoring instruments established.
Create a flexible work environment
90. Actions by Governments, non-governmental organizations, business,
professional and trade associations and the private sector should lead to the
creation of a work environment that facilitates women’s participation in
economic activities. This should include providing opportunities for both women
and men to reconcile family and economic responsibilities through flexible
administrative regulations, parental leave, providing for part-time work with
benefits and flexible hours, individual taxation, and provision of social
support services such as child and dependant care and occupational health care.
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