I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.
 

Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure have a vital impact on the full, equal and meaningful participation of all women and girls in society, the realization of their human rights and their empowerment and inclusion. This is a key characteristic of the European Social Model.

The European Pillar of Social Rights is a framework that links the different elements that support gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. This includes equal opportunities and access to the labour market, fair working conditions, and social protection and inclusion with gender equality as key principles and objectives. The EU is committed to creating a fair system with social protection for all, work-life balance and an equal sharing of care and domestic responsibilities between women and men and within the household. The 20 principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, such as the inclusion of persons with disabilities and the assistance for persons living in situation of homelessness, apply to everyone.

A key element for gender-equal labour participation is having access to care services for children and other dependents, as well as universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services. The European Care Strategy aims at enabling affordable care services, improved working conditions and work-life balance of carers. It has three systematic effects on gender equality: increasing women’s participation in a labour market that is more mindful of care responsibilities, closing the gender pay and pension gaps, and contesting gender stereotypes and negative social norms by ensuring a balanced sharing of care tasks. The EU encourages policies in support of financial literacy education for women to increase their financial knowledge and independence.

Additionally, structural measures such as affordable, accessible, high quality early childhood education and care should be strengthened alongside general targeted efforts to support children at risk of poverty and social exclusion.

We should not forget those persons in vulnerable situations over the life course. Older women are more likely to end up in poverty than older men. Significant gender gaps in old-age poverty and gender-related disparities in pensions increase the vulnerability of older women. Further, public services such as social housing, public transport, water and sanitation, electricity and public employment services should be affordable and accessible to all without discrimination.

Social security, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure are key to ensure that no woman or girl is left behind. We are very pleased that Poland has just presented its voluntary national review under the review theme.

Thank you.