Sara Winkowski reports from this virtual side event at the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 70) about older women around the world who are living in extreme poverty.
This session, organized by COIGENS (a new NGO Committee on Intergenerational Solidarity), highlighted an urgent and persistent gap in global gender and ageing policy. COIGENS, launched at the United Nations on October 4, 2019, and sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Argentina to the United Nations, works to elevate global awareness of the opportunities and challenges of population ageing. The Committee advocates for the systematic integration of ageing into United Nations frameworks and for member states to reflect ageing needs in their social and economic policies, in support of the broader vision of building a society for all ages.
Women in poverty, and especially older women in poverty has been an issue long discussed. Many years ago, there was a movement at the International Labor Organization (which ICJW heartedly supported and worked for) trying to get a retirement income for women who were not in the working force, as women always worked at home, taking care of the family, the children, etc. with no pay. But the movement did not go too far. We are still facing the same problem. The meeting did not specify anything new, so I just want to give you the basics of this plight.
Older women face a high and often overlooked risk of extreme poverty caused by lifelong gender inequalities. Lower wages, unpaid care work, shorter working lives, and inadequate pensions leave many financially insecure. Longer life expectancies, limited healthcare access, and social isolation further exacerbate their vulnerability. Black and Latino women are particularly affected due to intersecting racial and gender disparities.
Disadvantages accumulate over a lifetime, resulting in higher poverty rates, greater disability, and social exclusion in older age compared to men. Unpaid domestic and caregiving work often removes women from formal employment, limiting their ability to build assets or secure adequate pensions. Ageism, gender-based violence, and exploitation intensify their economic and social vulnerabilities. Many older women struggle with hunger, food insecurity, and unaffordable healthcare, and isolation increases the risk of severe deprivation.
Globally, over one-quarter of women are over 50, projected to rise to 35% by 2050. Yet older women are largely invisible in gender equality programs, with only 0.1% of aid explicitly addressing their needs. Thirty years after the Beijing Declaration recognized their unique challenges, progress remains slow.
We need adequate pension systems, accessible healthcare, and social support networks to reduce poverty and ensure dignity in older age.
