3 Key Ingredients for the CSW68 Agreed Conclusions

During one of the virtual CSW knowledge sharing sessions organized by WO=MEN and Soroptimist International in February 2024, Veerle Slegers from Feniks Emancipation Expertise Centre talked about her experience at Feniks and the key ingredients to keep in mind when influencing the outcome document, the Agreed Conclusions, of this upcoming CSW on gender, poverty, institutions and financing. Read her blogpost here to find out more.

At Feniks Emancipation Expertise Centre we are very pleased with the recommendations developed by Dutch civil society for the Agreed Conclusions of the upcoming UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). The recommendations explicitly address the need for the transition to a rights-based, fair and just economic system which is essential for a gender-transformative and intersectional approach to poverty alleviation. At Feniks, we strongly support that statement.

At the same time we would like to see three essential ingredients added in that transition.

1. Redefine work

Feniks would like to specifically add that a fundamental factor in the development of a fair and just economic system is: redefining what counts as “work” and rejecting structural undervaluation of women’s labour, both paid and unpaid. Caregiving, housework, work which is now classified as “voluntary” and “informal”, are all highly significant and indispensable activities from which capital, economies and societies benefit, but for which they do not pay.

2. Redistribute capital and power

Redefining what we consider to be valuable and significant contributions to our economy and society also means putting schemes in place which acknowledge, respect and reward the people who do all that work (i.e. mostly women). An important means to that end is some form of a Universal Basic Income, a living wage for al. This helps women to sustain themselves and their children and to able to make more autonomous life choices. To enable this, a fundamental redistribution of capital and power is required.

3. Men’s emancipation is crucial

Last but not least: at Feniks know from our experience that programmes for the emancipation of men are essential. In order to change the economic system we have to change society as a whole and offer alternatives for the current dysfunctional and counterproductive social constructs. Constructs which keep men, women and all people from being who they really are and want to be, and from leading meaningful lives of their own choice. Programmes for men’s emancipation should discuss changing societal norms for men and masculinity, and support men in their liberation from traditional masculinities.

Veerle Slegers

Feniks Emancipation Expertise Centre

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