Progress and Challenges in Legal Frameworks for Women’s Economic Autonomy and Empowerment in Ibero-America

Women's economic empowerment is a fundamental pillar of gender equality and a necessary precondition for the achievement of all the Sustainable Development Goals. There is broad international consensus on its centrality in promoting the advancement of women's autonomy and agency, as well as its contribution to poverty eradication and inclusive economic growth. However, despite renewed efforts and commitments, progress remains insufficient as too many gaps persist, often sanctioned by the existence of discriminatory laws and policies or the absence of legal protections.

This report is part of the joint initiative of the UN Women Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean and the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB) to promote the repeal and reform of discriminatory laws for women's economic empowerment.

This compilation report presents a detailed analysis of current legislation on women's autonomy and economic empowerment, as well as a proposed reform agenda that identifies the specific provisions to be reformed and/or eliminated for each of the 22 Ibero-American countries.