W20 ensures G20 members push to empower women

Led by Susana Balbo, W20 is an engagement group and transnational network promoting women’s empowerment as an essential element for economic growth and social development. The group’s main goal is to influence the agenda of the decision-making bodies of the G20 in order for them to address gender inequality and implement policies encouraging women’s participation.

In October, the group presented a set of policy recommendations to President Mauricio Macri, this year’s chair of the G20 Presidency.

– Increase and improve women’s participation in the labour force by reducing the gender gap by 2025, investing public funds to ensure affordable and quality universal care services, eliminating all forms of discrimination against women, and analysing the future of work from a gender perspective.

– Guarantee women’s financial inclusion by ensuring equal access to financial services and markets and supporting women-owned and women-led businesses.

– Ensure women’s digital inclusion by improving access to affordable and secure digital services in rural areas and promoting initiatives that boost equal participation of women in STEM studies (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

– Foster the development of rural women by securing women’s access to gender responsive social services, including education, health and legal services in rural area; investing in infrastructure for rural development; and increasing funds for women living in rural areas.

The W20 consultation process works at an international level in which the content management of the W20 manages, coordinates and moderates the contribution of all delegates representing the G20 member nations and high-profile international organizations that can influence the global political agenda.