International legal means of protecting women’s economic rights: current status and prospects for development

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of international legal means of protecting women’s economic rights, taking into account current challenges and prospects for overcoming them. It examines leading international documents – the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the conventions of the International Labour Organization (Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100), Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)) – which define standards of equality in the field of labor, fair remuneration for equal work, protection against discrimination, and promotion of women’s economic activity. The role of monitoring and control mechanisms – in particular, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and ILO bodies – in shaping legal policy and its adaptation in national legal systems is revealed; the practices of states that have successfully implemented international standards through gender-sensitive legislation and organizational instruments for reform implementation are examined.

Key obstacles to the effective implementation of women’s economic rights have been identified: sociocultural stereotypes, unequal access to financial and productive resources, insufficient institutional capacity, as well as risks arising from digital transformation, the spread of non-standard forms of employment, the COVID-19 pandemic, and armed conflicts. The specifics of the gender digital divide as a new structural factor that exacerbates inequality in access to labor markets and entrepreneurial opportunities have been characterized.

Proposals were made for improving international legal mechanisms: updating standards to take into account new forms of employment and remote work, integrating a gender perspective into sustainable development strategies, strengthening intergovernmental cooperation, activating the role of international financial institutions, and expanding civil society participation in monitoring state obligations. It is concluded that ensuring women’s economic rights is not only a human rights imperative, but also a key condition for economic growth, poverty eradication, and the building of a just and inclusive society.