Speech by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen at the seminar “Women and the Challenges of Global Economy” in Helsinki on 20 October 2010

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UNIFEM and the European Commission Representation in Finland have really addressed a current and important topic. The challenges of the global economy affect the lives of women all over the world, also here in Finland. Globalization has a diverse effect on equality and the role of women.

On the one hand, global economy has given many people a new opportunity for employment and an improved livelihood. On the other hand, globalization appears to have led to increasing inequality and a weakening in the status of women. We need more research into the impacts of globalization on women. Information can help us draw right conclusions.

Only a fair globalization can be a positive force for all the peoples of the world, both women and men. The benefits of globalization must reach a greater number of people and be more equally distributed both among and within countries. In addition, economic growth must tie in with ecological framework. The world needs an understanding of global development which is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. Women who are often responsible for everyday choices in domestic life play a key role in developing green economy.

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There has been a clear change in the discussions in the United Nations General Assembly this autumn: the role of women in building peace, security and development has been widely recognized. Moreover, several outstanding women have been recently appointed to key duties within the UN.

The establishment of a new gender entity “UN Women” is very welcome. It will offer a holistic approach to gender-sensitive decision-making in the United Nations context.

Women’s vital role in sustainable development is well known. The UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Global Sustainability, which I chair together with the President of South Africa, has an equal gender distribution. The gender perspective will undoubtedly be visible in the work of the Panel.

Gender equality is also a key dimension in reaching the UN Millennium Development Goals. Most of the Goals, when implemented, will improve specifically the situation of women and girls. Promoting gender equality and improving the status of women especially through education is one of the main Goals (MDG 3). And vice versa, promoting the rights of women and girls is also a requirement for achieving the other Goals of the UN Millennium Declaration.

Poverty often has the face of a woman. Work is the best cure against poverty and economic self-determination for both women and men. Women’s employment and earnings lead to improved equality in the society at large. Through employment, women gain access to decision-making within the trade union movement, too. Employment also increases women’s participation in political activity and societal discussion.

Women work hard everywhere in the world but, more often than men, they are employed in informal sectors, in other words, without an employment contract and the payment of taxes, and lacking sickness insurance and pension security. They also work in agriculture along with their husbands without own income or ownership of land. This means that their right to decent work is not realised. It is extremely important that the equality perspective is included in the concept of decent work.

Economic equality is still far away. Even though women perform two thirds of all work in the world, they only earn one tenth of the income. Women own only one per cent of all property in the world and less than two per cent of all land.

Entrepreneurship is often the only way for women to secure their income and well-being. Microloans and microcredit have achieved encouraging results. Here in Finland, too, microcredit has helped many women to set up their own business. In many developing countries legislation needs to be changed so that women would get their legal right to their own income and the results of their work.

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Finland came in third in the recent Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum. Equality is at the heart of the Nordic welfare society. The report shows that equality and competitiveness are closely interlinked.

We should take pride in our excellent performance. At the same time, we need to acknowledge that, even in Finland, full equality is not yet reality. The labour market is divided into jobs for men and women – and into pay for men and women. The share of women at the top of the business life is modest. Too many women hit the glass ceiling. Combining work and family life proves difficult in many ways. Temporary employment is the reality facing many young educated women today.

A more harmonious reconciliation of work and family life will not only help women but is also a contribution to humanity and to taking care of each other. It is vital that men are strongly welcome to this field.

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Half of the world’s population are women. Meeting the challenges of the economy and sustainable development require that all human resources of our planet be put into use. Empowering women is the best way to build a better world, but we need both women and men.