A/HRC/56/51 and exploitation as a result of an overall lack of reward for care work and limited representation, social dialogue and collective bargaining.89 82. The Working Group has previously highlighted that the dominant economic growth-based models of development thrive on women’s and girls’ “depletion”, through their filling of care gaps, and the draining of care resources from poorer nations, through globalized care chains.90 As the world faces increasing demands for care owing to changes in family structures, ageing societies and an increase in women’s employment in certain countries, as well as the impacts of climate change,91 the Working Group will examine more closely current challenges and policy approaches to the global care crisis with a view to promoting a human rights-based, feminist, intersectional approach to care, one that is conducive to greater gender equality and protective of the socioeconomic rights of workers. In so doing, it will take into account women’s and girls’ role as “carers for the planet”. (b) Gender equality in our digital lives 83. Digital technologies are rapidly and increasingly transforming lives and societies, bringing about both opportunities and challenges with regard to the advancement of gender equality. 92 In its previous reports, the Working Group has highlighted the gender-related digital divide, restrictions on access to digital devices faced by women and girls and online violence and harassment, as well as the challenges and opportunities created by technology for women’s employment, political participation and privacy, inter alia.93 84. As the use of digital technologies, as well as their design and technical content, are affected by social, economic and political factors, it is crucial to recognize and address the distinct effects of digitalization on women and girls and pursue an intentionally gender-responsive approach to the design and implementation of digital technology, including in the development of artificial intelligence. 94 Otherwise, discriminatory social norms and stereotypes will be reinforced and inequalities will be amplified and perpetuated through biased digital platforms and algorithmic tools. 95 In one of its future reports, the Working Group will thus explore discrimination against women and girls in the digital sphere and the impact of current and future developments on their rights, well-being and potential. (c) Gender justice in post-conflict situations 85. In 2022, an estimated 614 million women and girls were living in conflict-affected countries. 96 The Secretary-General has underscored that post-conflict reconstruction and recovery efforts significantly underfund women’s priorities.97 Women and girls also continue to be sidelined in peace processes, despite the fact that they are the primary victims and contrary to the call made by the Security Council in resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security. 98 In 2022, of 18 peace agreements reached, only one was signed or witnessed by a representative of a women’s group or organization.99 However, a gendered analysis of post-conflict needs is crucial to defining interventions – including in areas such 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 18 ILO, “From global care crisis to quality care at home: the case for including domestic workers in care policies and ensuring their rights at work”, policy brief (March 2024). See also https://globalallianceforcare.org/en/. See, for example, A/HRC/53/39. ILO, Care Work and Care Jobs for the Future of Decent Work; ILO, Care at Work: Investing in Care Leave and Services for a More Gender Equal World of Work (Geneva, 2022); and UN-Women, “The climate-care nexus: addressing the linkages between climate change and women’s and girls’ unpaid care, domestic and communal work”, working paper (New York, 2023). See, for example, E/CN.6/2023/3. See A/HRC/44/51, A/HRC/50/25 and A/HRC/53/39. See E/CN.6/2023/3. See UN-Women, “Placing gender equality at the heart of the Global Digital Compact” (New York, 2024). S/2023/725, para. 2. Ibid., para. 58. See African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Study on Transitional Justice and Human and Peoples’ Rights in Africa (2019). S/2023/725, para. 8. GE.24-07559