MMM calls for the recognition of Care as a human right

The following is the full text of our oral statement. 

In recent years, the issue of the inequitable distribution of unpaid family care work has been receiving the attention it deserves, something we at MMM have long been advocating for. It is a cause of much discrimination and economic injustice for women – in particular when they are mothers.

In line with target 5.4 of the SDGs, more efforts should be made to recognize, value and redistribute unpaid domestic and care work. Redistribution is about sharing this work more equitably first between men and women, but also across society, to enable women to engage in paid work, be independent and make life choices.

But to recognize and value unpaid care work properly, we must recognize Care as a human right: the right to care, the right to be cared for, and the right to self-care.

The right to be cared for is already implicitly enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is the responsibility of States to support parents in their caring and educational responsibilities, and to provide childcare as part of public services. A right to Care would unequivocally put obligations on States to provide adequate support to every unpaid caregiver – thereby also protecting the right of any person in need to receive Care.

We therefore call on the Human Rights Council to consider the recognition of Care as a right – a new human right that could help alleviate the inequities and injustices suffered by unpaid caregivers, in particular mothers.

MMM Statement for download

Justine Besson delivered this statement on behalf of MMM during the General Debate on the promotion and protection of all human rights (Item 3) of the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council, which took place on 17 March 2023.