CSW69 Side Event on the Care Economy and Cooperatives

On March 11, 2025, the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) Side Event took place at the Swedish Church in New York, bringing together a diverse group of experts and advocates to discuss the critical role of cooperatives in transforming the care economy.

UN DESA and the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC) delivered a statement highlighting key insights:

• ⁠Unpaid care work is valued at $11 trillion, yet remains undervalued in the economy.
• Cooperatives, like We Effect, are leading efforts to improve conditions for care workers.
• 2025 marks the International Year of Cooperatives, emphasizing their role in sustainable development.
• The upcoming Second World Social Summit (Nov 4-6, Doha, Qatar) will review global progress on social inclusion and economic transformation.

The discussion underscored the urgent need for a multi-stakeholder approach to reshape the care economy, ensuring fair pay and better working conditions.