In preparation for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) meeting, beginning 2 March 2009, the following is a part of the written submission that IFUW sent to CSW in December 2008. It has been incorporated into the report for the meeting and can be found as the fourth item listed at http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/csw53/OfficialDocuments.html

…It is also urgent that Governments encourage financial institutions and international bodies to include women in economic decision-making positions. It goes without saying that these same Governments must set an example by making visible their intent to make gender equality in their own government positions an integral part of government policy. Financial institutions, both national and international, must employ women in senior positions, publicize this fact, and consider providing and promoting the decent work concept, as stated in the International Labour Organization (ILO) initiative. They must promote a gender perspective in the labour market by the use of data disaggregated by sex and age. Significant gaps in decent work opportunities lead to ghettoization of women in low paying, non-benefit jobs. The World Economic Forum has warned that “In the current economic environment there is a danger that economic investment in gender equality along with other challenges, may fall.”

Global instability and financial crises have a disproportionately negative impact on women. As women account for 50% of “human talent” in the world, it makes the most sense to optimize this talent in regards to international trade agreements by requiring equal treatment of women and men in the work force everywhere and provision of equal opportunities for job advancement through training education and promotion.