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There is an international movement to value caregiving itself. Here are the minutes of a meeting in New York City held March
1 2006 for UN delegates and nondelegates during meetings for the Commission on the Status of Women
CAREGIVING AND THE ECONOMY
(theNew York minutes
We are little lights around the world but officials
have sunglasses on and cant see the little lights.
We need a world network so we
can create one big light Aine Ui Ghiollagain
-meeting of concerned UN delegates and non-delegates
March 1 2006
UN Church Centre, New York City
hosts:
Caregiver Credit, Social Agenda, Inc., New York City NGO at the UN
Curam, Ireland NGO at the UN, FEFAF Federation Europeenne des Femmes Actives au Foyer
____________________________________________________________
topic under discussion:
a meeting to plot a course for achieving economic security
for mothers and other caregivers throughout the world
_________________________________________________________
past work:
Caregiver Credit and Social Agenda have worked to count unpaid labor in the GDP. In 1997 they spearheaded a broad-based
effort to make the child tax credit refundable, a goal accomplished in 2001. Caregiver Credit created a national dialogue
to convert the child tax credit to a refundable caregiver credit to also cover care of adults in need. The credit could be
used to defray cost of at-home care or of alternate care such as daycare, a nanny, home health aide, nursing home or other
FEFAF was created in 1983. It seeks the recognition of the human, social and economic value of unremunerated caring and
of the educational work carried out in the home for the benefit of the family. It seeks the collection of data about this
work in national statistics, reduction of risk of poverty and marginalization of unpaid caregivers, and the adoption of social
welfare rights not lined to remunerated employment status. It seeks a family policy guaranteeing rights of families and children
not subordinated to employment policy so that every women has free ‘choice of life path, without having to ‘model
her life on that of people active on a full-time basis in the paid work force. In 1993 the European Parliament adopted the
resolution put forward by Mrs. Hedwig Kelppelhof-Wiechert saying that persons who have spent time raising children or looking
after the elderly or handicapped parents are entitled to social recognition and the suggestion that this recognition could
take the form of legal status, social security and pension entitlements. Her report P.E. 148.132 also noted that work in
the home represents significant saving for the State on social infrastructures such as nurseries. In 1995 the UN World Conference
on Women at Beijing focused on unpaid labor. In 1998 FEFAF got the designation at the UN of an NGO holding special consultative
status with ECOSOC
In 2002 The UN held in Madrid and Berlin a special general assembly on ageing, and in 2003 the European Parliament adopted
the EU report by Mrs Regina Bastos. The document PE 2003/2129 INI stated that women must be able to choose whether to work
or stay at home, and that the rights of children must be at the heart of family policies. It called on the member states
to value the care role in the home and said those who opt to work within the family and to bring up children must enjoy the
same social protection in old age as those who have been gainfully employed. It encouraged the member states to analyze the
impact of their policies on families, offering parents a greater freedom of choice.
FEFAF members include AMEC of Portugal, Asbl Femmes et Foyer, Belgium, Associazione Uomini Casalinghi of Italy, Confederacion
Espanola de Amas de Cassa Consumidores y Usuarios of Spain, Deutscher Hausfrauenbund of German, Action Familiale et Populaire
du Luxembourg, Femmes Actives au Foyer, France, Haro Sweden, Full Time Mothers, UK, Stichting Huismannen, Netherlands, Osterreichische
Hausfrauenunion, Austria, Liga voor het Kind, Belgium, Mothers Center, Slovakia, Movimento Italiano Casalinghe, MOICA, Italy,
Nagycsaladosok Orszagos Egyesulete Hungary, Syndicat des Personnes Actives au Foyer, Switzerland, Taking Care of the World
Foundation, Poland, Union Hellenique des Femmes Diplomees, Grece, Verband der Familienfrauen, Germany and CURAM Ireland
UN Background
1995 World Summit for Social Development , Copenhagen Declaration and Program for Action
-article 64/ab -urged nations to acknowledge the important contribution of unremunerated work to societal well-being
and to bring respect, dignity and value to social perceptions of such work and the people who do it
1995 Platform for Action World Conference on Women, Beijing
article 206 f- member nations were urged to develop methods to assess the value of unremunerated work outside of national
accounts, such as caring for dependants and preparing food, to includes these in satellite or other official accounts to recognize
the economical contribution of women and to make visible the unequal distribution of remunerated work
1999Commission on the Status of Women New York recommended recognizing and acknowledging that unremunerated work by
women caring for dependants and household and voluntary work is a considerable contribution to society
1999- replying to an individual complaint by Beverley Smith from Canada, that her country discriminated against at-home
caregiving in tax, pension and child care laws, the Division for the Advancement of Women at the Commission on the Status
of Women noted an international trend within the complaint for legal systems discriminating, an absence of women in decision-making
and a high incidence of women and children in poverty
2002 – International Plan of Action on Ageing – at Madrid
article 15- 12g urged the recognition of the crucial importance of families. Article 66 – b urged members to
ensure conditions that enable families and communities to provide care and protection to persons as they age. Article 105
urged member nations to take steps to support family care and to provide community –based care
at Berlin – Commitment 9 (a) urged member nations to take steps to support family care and community-base care.
Article 92 urged nations to strive, implement and promote family-friendly policies and services
Meeting March 1 2006
In attendance were approximately 40 international delegates and non-delegates including
Brigitte Bolonovski, FEFAF
Majvor Sintorn, FEFAF
Irene Goldberg, WIZO, Geneva
Gillian Badcock- England
Nick Danforth
Lyhdia Kotjsta Angola
Reja Urayai- Zimbabwe
Ginger Malacko, Canada
Valerie J. Evans _ National Council of Women- UK
Anthonia Tabani- Nigeria
Nkia Ekro- Lagos
Nilly Mawa Kenya
Reiki Kiogara- Kenya
Helen Ward, - Canada
C. McDonald Golenada Canada
M. Suttam Canada
Shauna Paul-UC Westt Canada
Rhoda Maude Kenya
Gail Mitchell
Suicala Shongue South Africa
Carol Traynor Global Action on Ageing, USA
Dorothy Hibtant _
Guiseppe Simondetti- Italy
Elisa Di Costanzio Italy
Tina Leonzi- Italy
Cecile de Laage, - Mouvement Mondial des Meres, France
Am .M Lowhoren Mouvement Mondial des Meres, France
For Blen Mouvement Mondial des Meres, France
Suzanne Rizzo- Wellesley Centers for Women, USA
Elizabeth Diflo Wellesley Centers for Women USA
Diana Slutzky Wellesley Centers for Women, USA
Diane Pagen, Social Agenda, USA
Cathy Myers, Family and Home Network USA
Gail Mitchell, National Organization for Empowering Caregivers, USA
Nick Brandeis University USA
Dorothy Hibbert- International League for Human Rights
Speakers
Theresa Funiciello- Executive Director Social Agenda, USA
Majvor Sintorn, FEFAF, Sweden
Aine Ui Ghiollagain, Ireland, president FEFAF
Beverley Smith, Canada
Minutes
The meeting was called to order
Aine introduced the topic of discussion and welcomed guests
She pointed out that her aim was to recognize
care of the young, elderly and disabled and pointed
out that in Ireland the government is considering
moving from a household based tax system to an
individual base, disadvantaging the unpaid care sector.
She noted the mistaken impression common that
the at-home caregiver is not doing useful work and
cited Charlie McReery, Irish Commissioner in Europe
as influential in sadly promoting some of this
misinformed image.
She noted that the European Union is very influential
at the moment and that its work has national implications.
She noted that rural women have faced particular struggles
in lack of recognition for care work and lack of access
to 3rd party care options.
She observed the unfairness of a social policy which
only treats care of children as a ‘lifestyle choice’ not
as useful work and explained her organization
commitment to collection of statistics to tally and
make visible unremunerated work.
She noted that the United Nations member nations
at Beijing agreed to tally unpaid labor but noted there
has been little progress in such a tally with the definitions
of what to tally being unclear. She noted that individual
nations may be seeking direction from the UN in that
regard .She observed that the movement to value unpaid work is not just in the industrialized world but has massive
support from South American and Africa also. She said
We are the little lights around the world” She observed
that some officials have sunglasses on and cant see the
little lights. We need a world network to create one big light
The speaker from Sweden informed that in her country the tax system intentionally is designed to make it difficult to
live on one income and noted that the care functions are done both by those who are at home and by those who work outside
the home and then come home to care responsibilities also. She observed that neither groups get respected for their care roles.
Theresa Funiciello spoke of the US initiative of which she has been a part. She made a complaint on this issue in the
1980s and more recently has been part of a movement with Social Agenda. She noted the hurdles of the movement, observing that
those she tries to help, lack power and have no money and secondly that the media has not expressed interest in the issue.
She explained the background of the child tax credit in the
US and her groups goal to make it refundable. To create
more public awareness of the issue her group is undertaking
two initiatives. One is a postcard letter-writing campaign to
Mrs. Laura Bush, wife of the current president of the US
and the second is the production of a comic book hero
named Carrie Giverwith books to be distributed and
available to schools, community centers and the general
public.
She recounted her personal initiative to hire a New York
Yellow taxi cab to drive around the US, speaking to
local media about the issue and attracting considerable
publicity since few people have seen a trademark Yellow
NY cab outside New York City. She revealed that shortly
after her return from the round-the-nation taxi ride,
the president signed the bill and observed that not
only was the child tax credit made refundable but its
amount was actually increased.
She urged the audience to continue the struggle despite
opposition and recommended that a loose affiliation
be created to create a more international profile.
Beverley Smith of Canada spoke of her personal experience
in that country, since 1976, withdrawing from a promising
school teaching career for a time in order to raise children
and encountering financial and social hurdles that surprised
her in a climate that claimed to value women. She
recounted efforts of groups to hold conferences on
unpaid work, an income tax court challenge which admitted
there was a discrimination in the law, human rights
commission complaints, a complaint at the United Nations
and the refusal of her government to consider a Supreme
Court reference on the issue.
She observed that 17 rallies in her country last November
to argue for funding of all care of children were mocked
by some parliamentarians and ignored in the press but
that the government shortly after fell. She noted that
the new government has promised more equal funding
of all children but regretted the fact that the new
proposals of equality do not provide adequate funding
for any care style. She observed in general that this
has been a 30 year struggle for her and that hurdles
have become the norm but left the message that there
is hope and reason to continue as women work through
existing systems. She also pointed out that it is
vital to not divide or in-fight but to instead
create a win-win, so women who use daycare or
other non-home care styles are not made to feel
guilty and are not disempowered either for benefits
they get. She urged uniting to create a 3rd wave
of equality, valuing both paid and unpaid labor.
A general discussion followed
Cathy Myers of the Family and Home Network US outlined
the background of her organization founded in
1983 as Mothers at Home. She noted its efforts
to offer encouragement to mothers and her 21
year history of issuing a monthly journal. She
reported a recent success in finally being able to
convince her Department of Health to create with
her input a handbook for parents outlining and
treating with dignity many types of child-rearing
options, including for the first time recognition
of tag-team parenting, at-home parenting and
nannies as well as the 3rd party daycare option.
Gail Mitchell of the National Organization for Empowering Caregivers USA expressed her frustration with the historic treatment
by the UN of the caregiving issue, noting that
it originally had a male focus and was a ‘symbol of manhood. She pointed out that unpaid care of the elderly
alone, usually done by women, in her nations saves the state $300 billion per year and is a considerable contribution to the
economy.
She urged dramatic action to raise public awareness
and suggested several options. She said we need to develop a
voice and urged observers to have courage and not
go with out tails between our legs
She said that the next stage of the movement is to
be more humanist than feminist and to include
mens care work and equality in the discussion.
Tina Leonzi of Italy asked Beverley Smith to outline
any positive changes in Canada to value caregiving
Smith replied in French and then was assisted
by a translator into Italian to outline the fact
that maternity benefits have now been extended
to one year from 6 months and to point out
other policies such as parental leave and palliative
care leave but noted that these are nonuniversal
and are tied to a restricted criteria set of paid
labor, making it so even self-employed and
employer mothers do not qualify.
Leonzi of UNICA requested to continue to be
contacted as these matters are pursued on
an international level and offered the interest
and encouragement of her huge network
Margaret Obaga of Kenya pointed out that the discussion
on caregiving was refreshing to hear and that in
her nation the care needs are currently overwhelming
in the face of the AIDS epidemic, where caregivers
and care receivers may be adults, children and family
members. She sought the attention of the world
for these very critical and urgent needs.
Aine of FEFAF pointed out that some of the discussion on AIDS has not focused adequately on the caregiver. She cited a
publication by writer Jeffery Sachs, economic advisor, pointing out that HIV is a health care crisis but not mentioning the
huge task of caregiving as a result.
A second commentator observed sardonically that some have even suggested that a solution is to reduce the number of children
and that testing them with dangerous pharmaceuticals has reduced the number of children. This story of horror was greeted
by the audience with emotion.
Animated discussion followed with endorsement of the idea of creating a network internationally to ‘connect
the experience and to have one voice to help each other.
Nick of Brandeis University pointed out that men must be included in the discussion and advised that the movement must
recognize that many men are also givers of care.
He alluded to the Wages for Housework movement of
the 1980s which sought to make visible the contribution
of unpaid housework
Theresa Funiciello elaborated noting that in earlier years there
had been a National Welfare Rights Organization in the US but that it had argued for the value of unpaid work with a membership
mostly of poor women. She observed that the Wages for Housework movement had continued this initiative but had now extended
it and informed that the new branch was directed by affluent women, somewhat changing the perception of the movement.
Nick said he works with mens groups to change mens
attitudes and admitted it is very difficult to see progress
in this field. He reminded the audience that this
is not a womens issue only and pointed out that in
his personal life and those of others, being an at-home
dad also needs recognition.
Dorothy Hibbert of the International League for Human Rights
spoke from her perspective of operating an office in NYC. She noted that many groups in California have recently expressed
interest and recommended the audience consult her paper on the topic, which can be found online. It is Womens Unpaid Work
She noted however that at the UN the focus in collection
of economics data has been to ignore unpaid
labor and needs to change. She observed that the movement
is not new but attention to it has been piecemeal.
She revealed that many groups are now coming on board
including at-home dad groups in Italy and Holland.
The hosts of the meeting Aine of Ireland and Theresa of the USA urged we take action and it was moved and seconded that
an international network be established to raise the profile of this issue and that a letter about the formation of this group
and its wishes be directed to the United Nations. Aine Ui Ghiollagain of Curam would like this new network to ask Kofi Annan
to devote more time to the tally of unpaid work and to mobilize the UN to specifically request such statistics from each nation.
She believes that having statistics makes the work no longer invisible to policy makers
All present voted in favor of formation of such an organization. Many were also anxious to sign on to this group and to
be issued a copy of the draft letter in order to consider it, discuss it with their organizations and add their signatures
as appropriate.
Brigitte Polonovski of FEFAF reminded some in attendance that ECOSOC is seeking submissions on this topic from UN delegates
already and would like to know more. Their next meeting is in July 2006 and they are seeking papers by April.
She also suggested that those organizations that do not have NGO status at the UN seek to obtain it.
The meeting adjourned at 4PM EST
For further information on this new initiative contact
Aine Ui Ghiollagain withcare@eircom.net
Theresa Funiciello tfuni@caregivercredit.org
For references to the Canadian presentation or experience or to get the international newsletter on caregiving
Beverley Smith bevgsmith@alumni.ucalgary.ca
For information about public awareness raising and the new Carrie Giver comic, bumper stickers and other promotionals
contact Diane Pagen
email@caregivercredit.org
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