15 March 2016: The High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment held its inaugural meeting on the margins of the 60th session of the Commission of the Status of Women (CSW 60). The Panel is expected to hold a series of consultative meetings throughout 2016 and 2017, and to release an initial report in September 2016, followed by its final report in March 2017.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the Panel at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in January 2016. It aims to mobilize action on gender equality and provide recommendations for implementing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls) and SDG 8 (Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all). The Panel is co-chaired by Luis Guillermo Solis, President of Costa Rica, and Simona Scarpaleggia, IKEA Switzerland CEO.

Addressing the Panel at its first meeting, Ban said it can lead the charge for women’s economic empowerment, and highlighted the need to ensure that women and girls enjoy the same access to education, economic resources and political participation as boys, as well as the same employment, legal rights, leadership and decision-making opportunities. Solís said economic empowerment of women means recognizing and valuing fairly all women’s work, so they can achieve their full potential and contribute to national development.

Justine Greening, UK Secretary of State, called the panel a “major” step forward in the battle to close the gender gap in economies around the world. She invited members to make sure it delivers real change for the world’s poorest women. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women Executive Director, observed that UN Women looks to the panelists to lead and foster women’s economic empowerment with governments, development partners, the private sector and civil society.

UN Women, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the UK’s Department of International Development (DfID) provide support for the Panel.

CSW 60 is taking place from 14-24 March 2016, in New York, US. [UN Press Release] [IISD RS Story on Panel] [IISD RS Story on CSW 60 Opening]