Gender Equality

Paying women less than men contributes to women’s vulnerability, lack of educational and career achievement, and a higher incidence of relative poverty later in life. Lower earnings also make it harder for women to take care of their families, especially single mothers. A large body of international and national laws prohibit the discrimination against women of any kind, including in related to salary and wages.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women defined discrimination in as “any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.”