Paid and unpaid care work is essential to our economy and society, covering activities such as childcare, elder care, and support for individuals with disabilities or illnesses. These efforts are vital for human well-being and form the foundation for all other work.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted our reliance on care work and its supporting infrastructures, drawing attention to this often-overlooked, female-dominated sector. Some governments and policymakers are now developing comprehensive policies to support it.

Advocates for childcare, domestic workers’ rights, social protections, elder care, and disability rights are pushing for more inclusive and gender-responsive policies worldwide.