E/2016/27 E/CN.6/2016/22 9. The Commission reaffirms that the realization of the right to education contributes to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, human rights, sustainable development and poverty eradication. The Commission notes with concern the lack of progress in closing gender gaps in access to, retention in, and completion of secondary education, which is key to the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls and the realization of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as enabling other positive social and economic outcomes. All women and girls must therefore enjoy access to lifelong learning opportunities and equal access to quality educati on at all levels, including early childhood, primary, secondary and tertiary education and technical and vocational training. 10. The Commission recognizes that women’s equal economic rights, economic empowerment and independence are essential to the achi evement of the 2030 Agenda. It underlines the importance of undertaking legislative and other reforms to realize the equal rights of women and men, as well as girls and boys where applicable, to access economic and productive resources, including land and natural resources, property and inheritance rights, appropriate new technology and financial services, including microfinance, and equal opportunities for women for full and productive employment and decent work, and equal pay for equal work or work of equal value. The Commission acknowledges the positive contribution of migrant women workers to inclusive growth and sustainable development. 11. The Commission further recognizes that achievement of the 2030 Agenda requires the full integration of women into the formal economy, including through their effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life and through changing the current gender-based division of labour to ensure that unpaid care and domestic work is equally shared and recognized, reduced and redistributed. 12. The Commission recognizes that conflicts, trafficking in persons, terrorism, violent extremism, natural disasters, humanitarian emergencies and other emergency situations disproportionately affect women and girls. It therefore recognizes that it is essential to ensure that women are empowered to effectively and meaningfully participate in leadership and decision -making processes, that their needs and interests are prioritized in strategies and responses and that the human rights of women and girls are promoted and protected in all development efforts, as well as in conflict, humanitarian emergencies and other emergency situations. 13. The Commission stresses the need to ensure that no one is left behind in implementing the 2030 Agenda and in this regard recognizes the challenges faced by refugee women and girls and the need to protect and empower them, including in countries in conflict and post-conflict situations, and the need to strengthen the resilience of communities hosting refugees, and underscores the importance of development support for those communities, particularly in developing countries. 14. The Commission reiterates its concern over the challeng e climate change poses to the achievement of sustainable development and that women and 16-05842 9/62