International Women's Day is a key date to reflect on the progress made and the challenges facing building more equitable societies. In this context, the Regional Committee on Gender Equity of Cooperatives of the Americas (CREG) organized a special webinar to commemorate this day and explore the fundamental role of women in the social and solidarity economy.
The meeting took place on March 10 and began with welcoming remarks from the Regional Director of Cooperatives of the Americas, Danilo Salerno, who conveyed greetings from President José Alves. He also highlighted the importance of the date in strengthening the achievements made in the fight for gender equality, as well as the challenges that remain.
Likewise, the president of CREG, Myriam Báez Rojas, highlighted the historical tenacity of women's struggle for equality. She emphasized that, throughout history, women have demonstrated courage and persistence in their pursuit of equality. This year, Báez called for ensuring that women have full access to their fundamental rights, such as education, work, health, and care. She also emphasized that the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform It represents a key opportunity to reaffirm that gender equality must be the basis of humanity's common future.
The president of CREG gave the floor to Dalia Borge Marín, a renowned expert from the Andalusian School of Social Economy, who highlighted how motherhood, caregiving, and domestic work are essential activities for social and economic functioning, yet they often do not receive the recognition or compensation they deserve, despite their profound impact.
“Women are fundamental pillars of society. They not only keep their families afloat, but they also drive social initiatives that improve everyone's lives. Their strength and determination are a source of inspiration,” Borge emphasized.
In addition, it generated a brief review of some key historical milestones in the fight for gender equality, such as the Declaration of the Rights of Women and Citizens of 1791, the right to vote won by British women in 1918, and the UN resolution 1325 (2000), which advocated for the full participation of women in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
During his speech, Borge also highlighted the positive impact of female participation in the economy, noting, for example, that when the presence of women in the labor market increases, economies experience significant growth. In the cooperative field, he mentioned that, according to recent studies, cooperatives, especially those linked to the social and solidarity economy, tend to be more inclusive and equitable, which promotes more sustainable and fair economic development.
Finally, the session closed by highlighting CREG's commitment to promoting gender equity policies in cooperatives and to promoting gender equity issues within the activities of the Regional Agenda for the International Year of Cooperatives 2025.
International Women's Day is a day that inspires reflection and action, and reminds us of the importance of continuing to work toward a society where gender equality is a tangible reality for all people.
