Induction Modules on Gender Equality

ESCAP's induction module on key conventions and international commitments offers an overview of the most relevant international treaties relevant to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is monitored by the Committee on the Discrimination Against Women. States parties are expected to submit a national report to the Committee at least every 4 years. The convention covers three dimensions of the situation of women: legal status, reproductive rights, and cultural factors.

This module addresses the challenge of gender discriminatory language and offers valuable insights into combating unconscious bias through gender-inclusive language. It provides comprehensive guidance on incorporating gender-inclusive language and emphasizes the importance of using correct pronouns. Participants will gain practical knowledge and skills to promote communication that is respectful, inclusive, and gender-sensitive.

Gender-discriminatory language is language that reinforces stereotypes, biases, or unequal treatment based on gender. This can perpetuate traditional gender roles and contribute to the discrimination of individuals based on their gender identity. Given the key role of language in shaping cultural and social attitudes, using gender-inclusive language, which does not discriminate against any particular sex or gender identity and does not perpetuate gender stereotypes, is a powerful way to promote gender equality.

This module offers a comprehensive overview of the care economy in the Asia-Pacific region, encompassing its definition, gender-based workload disparities, and its impact on female labor force participation rates. This module provides an overview of ESCAP's work on the Care Economy including a conceptual framework for formulating care policies and various measures for effective care policy implementation.

The care economy is an umbrella term used in reference to all forms of paid and unpaid care work provided by people as a necessary element of human survival, welfare, and economic stability. The provision of care work is the foundation of human life and has an intrinsic value being the precondition for a thriving and sustainable economy with a productive workforce. On average, women in Asia and the Pacific spend 4.1 times more time than men in unpaid care work.

This module provides a detailed introduction to the objectives and methodologies of Time-Use Surveys (TUS) for evaluating the time individuals spend on paid and unpaid care work. Participants will gain comprehensive knowledge in the measurements and the classification of time-use activities. The module also addresses the benefits, challenges, and limitations of TUS.

In order to achieve SDG Target 4 and recognize the value of unpaid care and domestic work, it is vital to have data and information on unpaid care and domestic work. TUS provide information on the time people spend in all types of work in a given time period (generally a day or a week) as well as how much time people spend on different specified activities. They are the main statistical sources of gender-disaggregated data on unpaid care work in households.

Coming soon

This module provides a detailed introduction to gender discrimination in the workplace, discrimination in career advancement and promotion, and workplace harassment. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the reasons for these types of discrimination and ways to address gender discrimination in the workplace.

Gender discrimination in the workplace occurs when an employee, worker, or job applicant is treated less favorably because of their sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. This can happen at all stages of employment and in both formal and informal sectors. In Asia and the Pacific, women also face discrimination in career advancement and promotion, occupying only 17% of all senior and middle management positions.

Coming soon

Coming soon