CSW69 Side Event on the Care Economy and Cooperatives

13 March 2025
Photo UNDP WACA

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 Photo

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.

News | 07 March 2025
The 18th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP18) will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 10 to 12 June 2025. As one of the world’s largest gatherings…
News | 03 March 2025
The 2026 United Nations Water Conference, co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal, will convene in the UAE from 2-4 December 2026. Special accreditation for Non-governmental Organizations and other Stakeholders (including Indigenous…
News | 03 March 2025
For the first time, the 63rd session of the United Nations Commission for Social Development (CSocD63), held from 5 to 14 February 2025, featured a dedicated session on the role of cooperatives and the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). The multi-…