Economic Justice

Economic justice has three different levels: macro, meso and micro. At the micro-level, we need to take into account women’s agency and the need to create enabling conditions for economic self-empowerment. At the meso-level, we need to take into account the role of governments and the public sector in the delivery of social protection services that frees up women’s time and resources to engage with the formal economy. And, lastly, at the macro-level, we need to take into account the structures of power responsible for poverty and marginalisation, re-thinking our current economic model in order to create a human rights-centred economy that puts people and climate at the centre.

Why it’s important

• In the vast majority of countries, women’s wages represent between 70 and 90% of men’s, with even lower ratios in some Asian and Latin American countries.
• As of 2011, 50.5% of the world’s working women were in vulnerable employment, often unpro- tected by labour legislation, compared to 48.2% for men. Women were far more likely than men to be in vulnerable employment in North Africa (55 versus 32%), the Middle East (42 versus 27%) and sub-Saharan Africa (nearly 85 versus 70 per cent).
• Women bear disproportionate responsibility for unpaid care work. Women devote 1 to 3 hours more a day to housework than men; 2 to 10 times the amount of time a day to care (for children, elderly, and the sick), and 1 to 4 hours less a day to market activities. (UN Women)

What we are doing to help

Economic rights are fundamental human rights. Many of our members develop projects specifically targeted at the economic empowerment of women in different communities. Many are developing trainings on sustainable farming for women to grow for their family and the market, others helped negotiate land titles for women. We assist women in turning their income generating activities into small businesses, securing their access to finance opportunities and useful technologies. ACT Alliance is engaged in promoting social justice, human rights and sustainable development. The gravity of the suffering of all people demands us to raise our voices in the face of the political and economic powers that cause injustice and inequality.