The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) hosted the 3rd Technical Meeting of the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group (EWWG) at the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga from 1 to 4 July 2025. The gathering aimed to elevate global discussions on gender equality, with a particular focus on the recognition and restructuring of care work—a critical but historically undervalued sector.

This high-level summit underscores South Africa’s leadership in championing women’s empowerment within the G20 framework, and its commitment to shaping policy conversations on inclusive economic and social development.

The HSRC’s Prof Narnia Bohler-Muller contributed to discussions at the 3rd Ministerial meeting on women’s economic empowerment in Skukuza. In a session dedicated to gender mainstreaming in the G20, she spoke on a panel alongside UN Women and G20 Empower Alliance. Prof Bohler-Muller is the head of delegation of W20 under South Africa’s G20 presidency. She also made inputs on behalf of W20 in preparation for the negotiations on the draft Ministerial Declaration. 

Photo L-R: Ms Aleta Miller, regional representative UN Women, Prof Narnia Bohler-Muller, Ms Florence Musundwa Empower Alliance and Ms Neo Mofokeng, UN Women country office.

Theme Spotlight: Recognising the Care Economy

This year’s meeting theme, “The Care Economy – Paid and Unpaid Care Work and Household Responsibilities,” places a spotlight on the persistent inequalities associated with care work. These responsibilities—often performed without compensation—are disproportionately shouldered by women and girls globally.

From unpaid domestic labour to caregiving for children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, the care economy forms the backbone of societal functioning. However, it remains largely invisible in national accounting systems and overlooked in policy frameworks.

Global Participation and High-Level Engagement

The four-day technical meeting attracted an impressive array of G20 member states, guest countries, international organisations, and civil society groups. Among those contributing are:

• DWYPD Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga,
• Delegates from United Nations Women, International Labour Organisation (ILO), World Health Organisation (WHO),
• Representatives of G20 engagement groups including Women 20 (W20) and Women Empower 20.

Through presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, these leaders and specialists are working collaboratively to produce evidence-based strategies that address gender inequalities in both economic and domestic spheres.

Key Focus Areas and Strategic Discussions

Delegates engaged in critical discussions that explore the structural causes of gender inequality and potential policy interventions. The programme includes:

• Global Care Landscape – Mapping the scope and conditions of paid and unpaid care work, particularly in underrepresented and marginalised communities.
• Gender Responsive Budgeting – Sharing international best practices and lessons from the implementation of National Care Policies across different economies.
• Gender-Based Violence and Femicide – Addressing the intersection between care work, safety, and structural violence against women.
• Financial Inclusion for Women – Proposing an action plan to enhance women’s access to finance, credit, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
• G20 Gender Mainstreaming – Evaluating efforts to integrate gender equality across all G20 Working Groups and Task Forces.

These sessions are intended to shape the G20’s policy agenda and serve as a resource for national governments seeking to design and implement effective gender equality frameworks.

Brisbane Goal 25×25 and SDG 5 Alignment

The outcomes of this meeting will directly contribute to the G20’s Brisbane Goal 25×25, which seeks to reduce the gender gap in labor force participation by 25% by the year 2025. The initiative also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

By focusing on care work, the EWWG is addressing a pivotal barrier to women’s economic participation—one that often goes unnoticed but has long-term implications for equity, health, and development.

Outcomes and Way Forward

The findings and recommendations from this technical meeting will be compiled into a working document to inform the G20 Leaders’ Summit and related policy platforms. The DWYPD has committed to advancing these outcomes through domestic reforms and global partnerships.

This includes pushing for the inclusion of care work in national labour statistics, promoting care-friendly economic policies, and scaling up investment in social infrastructure such as childcare and eldercare services.

Advancing Gender Justice through Global Collaboration

By bringing global voices together to shape inclusive policies, the 3rd Technical Meeting of the G20 EWWG serves as a landmark event in the movement to empower women and rebalance the care economy.

W20 South Africa in 2025 calls upon G20 leaders to revise and update the Brisbane Goals for 2035:

• Reduce the gender gap in employment by 35% by 2035
• Reduce the gender pay gap by 35% by 2035
• Reduce the unpaid care gap by 35% by 2035

Furthermore –

• To provide increased startup and growth capital across traditional and blended financing mechanisms and programmes like the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative WE-FI. Increase public and private procurement opportunities and market access for women.

• To create comprehensive CARE AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS by increasing public investment, leveraging public-private models, and adopting innovative financing and technological solutions. Recognise, measure, and evaluate paid and unpaid care work’s contribution to GDP and legislate for better wages, benefits and protections.

• To combat GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND FEMICIDE by strengthening legal protections and promoting Positive Masculinities, engaging men and boys in ending violence. Ensure full implementation of UNSCR 1325 with inclusive, funded National Action Plans that support women’s participation in peace processes including as negotiators.

• To end tech-facilitated GBV through joint action by governments, tech firms and civil society. Share data, co-create women-led solutions, and regulate platforms to prevent and monitor harmful content by focusing on human rights.

• To implement fully funded national DIGITAL INCLUSION programmes and mandate targeted national scholarships and funding schemes for underserved women and girls in high-growth STEM fields. 

• To launch a Global AI and Gender Equality Index to track and drive accountability across G20 countries.

• To include women in GLOBAL CLIMATE TALKS AND INVESTMENTS, such as the Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs). Reform climate finance to be equitable and harness women’s expertise in tech and nature-based solutions for circular economies and carbon markets. Empower women as disaster risk management and disaster risk reduction decision makers and first responders, integrating indigenous knowledge in early warning systems.

• To guarantee HEALTH EQUITY and unlock human capital through Universal Access to Reproductive Health and Mental Health Care. Harness environmental and digital health care innovations and standardise Gender and Health Equity Data for Inclusive Growth 

• To recognise MODERN SLAVERY – forced migration, forced labour, debt bondage, human trafficking and torture – as a grave economic injustice, disproportionately affecting women and girls. implement robust legal and regulatory frameworks to eliminate these crimes from supply chains, support survivor-led solutions, and invest in decent work and care infrastructure.