Financing social protection and care systems for…

Social protection and care systems are recognized as crucial tools to combat poverty (SDG1), ensure universal health coverage (SDG 3), and promote human rights and gender equality (SDG 5). However, cascading crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, environmental emergencies, and conflicts have reversed progress on poverty eradication and gender equality, leaving 1 in 10 women in extreme poverty and triggering a cost-of-living crisis amid a looming debt distress. These shocks are intensified by underlying structural crises in jobs, livelihoods, and care. If current trends continue, by 2030, an estimated 8% of the world's female population – 342.4 million women and girls – will still be living on less than $2.15 a day. Against this backdrop, UN Women's corporate side event will explore how social protection and care systems can advance human rights, gender equality, and poverty eradication. As the world prepares for the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, the event aims to accelerate progress in expanding social protection, strengthening resilience, and integrating social protection with employment and livelihoods. Additionally, this event seeks to bridge thematic linkages between the priority theme of CSW68 'Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing' with a gender perspective and the review theme on 'Social protection systems, access to public services and sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.'