Committing to improving gender equality in the health and care workforce

Imagine what health care could look like if the diverse voices of health and care workers had an equal say in decision making. Imagine men and women working in health and care sectors shouldering equal care burdens and getting paid equally for work of equal value. Imagine what health and care workers could do if they did not have to face discrimination, harassment and violence in the workplace. Celebrating 25 years since the Beijing Declaration and platform for action, Generation Equality sets the global vision for the empowerment of women and girls. Women represent 7 out of every 10 health and care workers in many countries, health and care sectors have a critical role to play in empowering women and realizing equal rights for an equal future. 

Global health security and the contribution made by health and care workers, the majority of whom are women is of paramount importance to healthy economies. As such the Gender Equal Health and Care Workforce Initiative, a partnership between the World Health Organization, the Government of France and Women in Global Health, aims to strengthen investment in and protection of health and care workers.

2021 has been designated as the International Year of Health and Care Workers (YHCW) in appreciation and gratitude for the unwavering dedication in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic that health and care workers have shown.  The Gender Equal Health and Care Workforce Initiative sees the International Year of Health and Care Workers as an opportunity for the health and care sectors to drive policy action to achieve the visionary agenda for women’s rights and empowerment outlined in Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.