Topic: 2024-Unpaid Care and Domestic Work
Country: Venezuela
Delegate Name: Kaitlyn Konyndyk
UN Women
Unpaid Care and Domestic Work
Venezuela
Kaitlyn Konyndyk
Forest Hills Northern High School
The topic of unpaid care and domestic work has long been a topic discussed around the globe because these roles are disproportionately taken on by women. This issue is and has been deeply rooted in gender norms and the structures of societies that cause unpaid care and domestic work to disproportionately be performed by women. Unpaid care and domestic work can include tasks such as caring for children and or elders, household chores, and dealing with family needs, all of which are unpaid. According to unwomen.org, women perform at least two and a half times more unpaid domestic work than men. Because of females disproportionately performing these tasks, their participation in things like education, paid work, and others are curtailed. Because in poorer countries, many workers don’t have the time to take up jobs caring for others or doing domestic work. Additionally, many of those requiring that assistance cannot afford it. The committee of UN Women within the United Nations wants to create policies that promote sharing of domestic work and care between men and women as well as creating more paid jobs in the care economy in order to further women’s economic empowerment.
Unpaid care and domestic work is a relevant problem in Venezuela. That being said, Venezuela does not have the resources needed to alleviate this pressure on women or to pay for much of anything. Due to our already struggling economy as well as political crises, gender inequalities have been exacerbated, which makes it even harder to implement social programs. That being said, Venezuela has proven their commitment to the issue in a multitude of way such as; the Misión Madres del Barrio, being a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and their recognition of the value of domestic work. The Misión Madres del Barrio does a multitude of things including lowering drug use among young people, figuring unintended pregnancies in girls, and most related to this issue, it aids mothers who live in extreme poverty. Through being a signatory to the CEDAW, Venezuela agreed to uphold the principles of the convention including: equal rights, education and employment, legal protection, social support, and improving conditions of rural women. The acknowledgment of the value of domestic work can promote economic visibility and account for many of the principles previously listed.
Venezuela urges the United Nations to follow an approach that emphasizes the need for international cooperation and aid. Additionally, we propose policy reform and creation of supportive social infrastructure. We call for the establishment of a global fund to support care economies in developing countries. We support developing regional partnerships to work together on the best practices and implement policies and or practices that focus on reducing the burden of domestic work and unpaid care. Venezuela desires a future where domestic workers are valued and supported.
