The European Union, speaking on behalf of its member states at the UN Human Rights Council on 6 July 2026, expressed strong support for draft resolution L.16 on eliminating all forms of discrimination against women and girls in care and support systems. In a general comment delivered during the Council's 62nd session, the EU welcomed the resolution's emphasis on care and support systems as a prerequisite for gender equality, noting that women and girls continue to bear a disproportionate share of unpaid care and domestic work, which limits their education, labour market participation, economic independence and decision-making roles.
The statement, agreed by the EU as a whole and delivered by the Delegation to the UN in Geneva, thanked Mexico, Iceland and Spain for advancing the rights of women and girls. The EU highlighted that the resolution addresses multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination as human rights violations breaching the principle of equality. The EU linked its support to its own policy frameworks, including the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy and the European Commission's Gender Action Plan III, which prioritise investing in the care economy to dismantle structural barriers such as patriarchal norms, gender stereotypes and unequal power relations. The EU also called for equal sharing of responsibilities, improved work-life balance, equal pay for work of equal value and adequate social protection.
The EU commended the core group for merging two previously separate resolutions—one on discrimination against women and girls and another on care provision—calling this an innovative approach that strengthens coherence and impact while contributing to the Council's rationalisation efforts. The EU urged all delegations to join consensus and reject any attempt to undermine the hard-won human rights of women and girls.
The resolution, if adopted by consensus, would reinforce international norms on gender equality and care, potentially influencing national policies in EU member states and beyond. Women and girls globally stand to benefit from increased recognition of unpaid care work and calls for investment in care infrastructure. EU institutions and member states may face pressure to align domestic policies with the resolution's principles, including expanding social protection and care services. Business sectors reliant on female labour, such as healthcare and education, could see shifts in workforce participation as care burdens are reduced, though compliance costs for care-related regulations may rise for employers. Civil society organisations advocating for gender equality would gain a stronger normative tool to hold governments accountable.