The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sets a clear vision for action to expand coverage of social protection systems and measures for all, with a view to eradicating poverty and reducing inequality, including gender inequality. Providing access to reliable and adequate social protection over the course of people’s lives has a transformative impact on women’s and girls’ roles and opportunities in economic, social and political life, leading to positive spill over effects for their families and communities.

Yet despite some progress in strengthening social protection systems, significant gaps remain. The majority of the world’s population remain unprotected from any form of social protection, and women are over-represented in this group. 

This Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) side event explores what governments, donors, development partners and civil society can do to empower women and girls through social protection. It builds upon a call to action by the SPIAC-B (Social Protection Inter-Agency Cooperation Board) who have issued a Joint Statement calling on governments and international partners to better utilise and strengthen social protection systems to promote gender equality and empower women and girls, and listing specific actions to be taken.