A/RES/74/142
International Equal Pay Day
Recalling that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 9 addresses the
need to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, in order
to ensure that no one is left behind, and that the systematic mainstreaming of a gender
perspective in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda is crucial,
Recalling also the commitment to achieve full and productive employment and
decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with
disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value, contained in the Sustainable
Development Goals, in particular target 8.5,
Noting the work of the Equal Pay International Coalition, which was established
to contribute to the achievement of equal pay for work of equal value and the relevant
Sustainable Development Goals, in particular target 8.5,
Taking note of the Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Women’s Economic
Empowerment,
Taking note with appreciation of the major contributions made by civil society,
including women’s and community-based organizations and feminist groups, as well
as businesses and workers’ and employers’ organizations, to promoting equal pay for
work of equal value and the economic empowerment of women and girls,
Recognizing that progress on the achievement of gender equality and the
empowerment of women and girls has been held back owing to the persistence of
historical and structural unequal power relations between women and men, poverty
and inequalities and disadvantages in access to resources and opportunities that limit
women’s and girls’ capabilities,
Expressing deep concern that this progress has been particularly slow when it
comes to women’s economic empowerment, that work traditionally held by women
has been undervalued and that tackling pay inequality has proved to be particularly
difficult,
Recalling in this regard Human Rights Council resolution 41/14 of 11 July 2019
on equal pay 10 and its recommendation to declare an International Equal Pay Day, in
order to celebrate the efforts of all stakeholders to achieve equal pay for work of equal
value and urge further action for the goal of equal pay for work of equal value for all,
Reaffirming its resolutions 53/199 of 15 December 1998 and 61/185 of
20 December 2006 on the proclamation of international years and Economic and
Social Council resolution 1980/67 of 25 July 1980 on international years and
anniversaries, particularly paragraphs 1 to 10 of the annex thereto on the agreed
criteria for the proclamation of international years, and paragraphs 13 and 14, in
which it is stated that an international day or year should not be proclaimed before
the basic arrangements for its organization and financing have been made,
1.
Decides to proclaim 18 September as International Equal Pay Day, to be
observed each year beginning in 2020;
2.
Invites all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations
system, other international organizations and civil society, including
non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe International Equal
Pay Day in an appropriate manner, in order to celebrate the efforts of all stakeholders
to achieve equal pay for work of equal value and urge the further action required to
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10
2/3
Resolution 70/1.
See Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-fourth Session, Supplement No. 53
(A/74/53), chap. II.
19-22241