17. The Commission expresses its concern about the continuing significant gender gaps in labour force participation and leadership, wages, income, pensions and social protection, as well as access to economic and productive resources. It also expresses its concern about the structural barriers to women’s economic empowerment, including discriminatory laws and policies, gender stereotypes and negative social norms. It is further concerned about unequal working conditions, limited opportunities for career advancement and the growing high incidence of informal and non-standard forms of employment in many regions. providing decent and dignified living conditions for themselves and their families, and recognizes the important role of trade unions and social dialogue in addressing persistent economic inequalities, including the gender pay gap. 22. The Commission reiterates its concern over the challenge climate change poses to the achievement of sustainable development and that women and girls, who face inequality and discrimination, are often disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change and other environmental issues, including, inter alia, desertification, deforestation, sand and dust storms, natural disasters, persistent drought, extreme weather events, sea level rise, coastal erosion and ocean acidification. Furthermore, the Commission recalls the Paris Agreement, adopted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and reaffirms that countries should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. 18. The Commission expresses concern about occupational segregation, including its vertical and horizontal dimensions, in all sectors. It recognizes that expanding equal opportunities for women and men in the labour market and for decent work, skills enhancement, participation and leadership in high-level positions for women can address the root causes of occupational segregation in working life and empower women and men to enter professions in the public and private sectors that are dominated by the opposite sex. 23. The Commission recognizes that globalization presents both challenges and opportunities for women’s economic empowerment. It also recognizes that there is a need to make broad and sustained efforts to create a shared future, based upon our common humanity, to ensure globalization is fully inclusive and equitable for all, including women and girls, and becomes an increasingly positive force for women’s economic empowerment. 19. The Commission recognizes that women constitute the majority of those employed in the health and social sectors, that by working in those sectors they make important contributions to sustainable development, and that investments in those sectors could enhance women’s economic empowerment and transform unpaid and informal care roles into decent work by improving their working conditions and wages and by creating opportunities for their economic empowerment through skills enhancement and career advancement. 24. The Commission reaffirms that the realization of the right to education, as well as access to quality and inclusive education, contributes to the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. It notes with concern the lack of progress in closing gender gaps in access to, retention in and completion of secondary and tertiary education and emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning opportunities. It recognizes that new technologies, which are changing the structure of labour markets, provide new and different employment opportunities that require women and girls to acquire skills ranging from basic digital fluency to advanced technical skills in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and in information and communications technology. 20. The Commission expresses concern that the feminization of poverty persists, and emphasizes that the eradication of poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is an indispensable requirement for women’s economic empowerment and sustainable development. The Commission acknowledges the mutually reinforcing links between the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls and the eradication of poverty, and the need to ensure an adequate standard of living for women and girls throughout the life cycle, including through social protection systems. 21. The Commission also expresses concern over the persistently low wages earned by women workers, which frequently prevent women from 25. The Commission recognizes the importance of a conducive external environment in support of 6