Study warns women face job losses and increased unpaid care duties as debt and conflict-driven turbulence force spending cuts
Women are hit hardest when the debt burden in developing countries rises, a trend expected to worsen as the war in the Middle East continues, UN research shows.
A report by experts from the UN Development Programme (UNDP), based on data from 85 countries gathered across three decades, shows women are disproportionately affected when debt repayments increase significantly.
As governments cut back public spending to accommodate rising debt costs, women, who are overrepresented in sectors such as education and care, are more likely to lose their jobs – and then to shoulder additional caring duties as the state retreats.
The UNDP’s administrator, Alexander De Croo, said the research underlined the importance for debtor countries of weighing the impact of potential spending cuts.
