The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) is hosting the 3rd Technical Meeting of the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG) at Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga Province.
As part of its leadership role within the G20 EWWG, South Africa is spearheading efforts to promote women's participation and representation in leadership, governance, and decision-making, while also advocating for increased ownership and control by women across economic and social sectors.
The meeting, which takes place from 01 to 04 July 2025, brings together G20 member states, guest countries, civil society organisations, and technical experts to advance global dialogue and cooperation on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
The meeting will focus on “The Care Economy – Paid and Unpaid Care Work and Household Responsibilities.”
“The topic aims to address long-standing disparities in the recognition and distribution of care work, which is essential to both household functioning and national economies yet remains undervalued and disproportionately carried by women and girls,” department spokesperson, Cassius Selala said.
Over the four days, delegates will participate in strategic and evidence-based sessions, including presentations and discussions on the following:
• Global care landscape, with a focus on recognising marginalised care relationships and exploring the potential of care work to create decent and inclusive employment.
• Cross country experience of implementation of Gender Responsive Budgeting and National Care Policies: Opportunities and Challenges.
• Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.
• Proposed action plan on financial inclusion of and for women.
• The G20 gender mainstreaming efforts on women's economic empowerment globally.
• Gender equality as a cross-cutting issues across G20 Working Groups and Task Forces.
High-level speakers will include DWYPD Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga; representatives of the G20 Member States, including guest countries, and international organisations; academic and policy experts from University of Cape Town, United National Women, International Labour Organisation (ILO), World Health Organisation (WHO); delegates from civil society and G20 engagement groups, including Women 20 (W20) and Women Empower 20, amongst others.
Selala said the outcomes of the meeting will contribute to the G20’s policy agenda on women’s economic empowerment, with a specific focus on recognising, reducing, and redistributing unpaid care work.
“This engagement also aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 5 and the G20’s ongoing commitment to the Brisbane Goal 25x25 [reduce the gender gap in labour force participation by 25 per cent by the year 2025],” Selala said. – SAnews.gov.za
