{"id":2526,"date":"2023-02-21T22:41:05","date_gmt":"2023-02-21T22:41:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthrights.mk\/?p=2526"},"modified":"2023-02-21T22:41:05","modified_gmt":"2023-02-21T22:41:05","slug":"the-care-contradiction-the-imf-gender-austerity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthrights.mk\/?p=2526","title":{"rendered":"The Care Contradiction: The IMF, Gender & Austerity"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Direct Link to Full 48-Page 2022 Publication: <\/strong>https:\/\/actionaid.org\/publications\/2022\/care-contradiction-imf-gender-and-austerity<\/a><\/p>\n

Full Copy Document: <\/strong>The Care Contradiction – The IMF Gender and Austerity.pdf (actionaid.org)<\/a><\/p>\n

October 10, 2022 – This report exposes the devastating impact public sector cuts are having on women in low income countries, who face a triple threat of losing access to services, having fewer opportunities to access decent work and being forced to take on the rising burden of unpaid care work.<\/p>\n

The Care Contradiction: The IMF, Gender and Austerity\u00a0<\/em>highlights the ways in which the International Monetary Fund\u2019s policy advice around austerity, and massive cuts to public spending, are exacerbating gender inequality. \u00a0It draws on recent research that found that 85% of the world\u2019s population will be living in the grips of stringent austerity measures by next year. Austerity measures include cutting or freezing the wages and numbers of teachers, health workers and other public sector workers. The drive to cut public budgets and public sector wage bills has been going on for decades, but the report shows these policies have no credible evidence base. Their effects though are devastating, blocking recruitment of nurses, care workers, doctors and teachers in many countries, even where there are desperate shortages, and blocking pay increases even where workers are on very low pay.<\/p>\n

This has undermined health and education outcomes, especially in low and middle income countries. It is estimated that globally, there is a shortage of 5.9 million nurses. In Ghana, our research found that on average there is one doctor to every 8,000 people. This is hugely impacting women, depriving them of health care and opportunities for decent work.<\/p>\n

The report also outlines the failings of the IMF\u2019s Gender Mainstreaming Strategy which was launched in July 2022, and identifies the necessary steps needed to turn the tide for women everywhere. The report calls for the IMF to:<\/p>\n