Approximate reading time: 3 minutes, 56 seconds
Regarding this date, in its most recent Annual Report the INDH analyzed the situation of women in light of their social rights. This is how he found that after the pandemic his salaries have decreased.
• In health, disparities are observed in both the use and costs of care in the private system. On average, women, just because they are women, pay annually between 6 and 10 UF more than a man.
Regarding International Women’s Day, the most recent Annual Report of the National Institute of Human Rights (INDH) examined the application of the Anti-Discrimination Law (Zamudio Law). Precisely, the situation of women was of special interest. Thus, it was detected that, despite the new regulations, there are deep gaps in work, health and pensions. In the latter case, the PGU can hardly correct the situation.
In 2018, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) recommended that Chile, within the framework of its seventh periodic report, prioritize a “comprehensive legal definition of all forms of discrimination against women.” Its relevance was later confirmed by a study by the Humanas Foundation, which revealed that 86.4% of the women surveyed consider themselves discriminated against.
Employment situation
The 2023 Report says that after the pandemic there was a faster reintegration of women into the labor market than anticipated, but it occurred with a drop in wages. According to INE figures, in the case of the income of employed men and women, there is a persistent gap, with a downward trend. In 2014, the average monthly income gap was 29.7 percentage points. In 2022 it fell to 20.4 percentage points.
As the study “Evolution and analysis of gender wage discrimination in Chile” explains, based on the CASEN Survey for the period 1990 – 2017, the wage gap always favors men. In 2017, employed men had 8.9% fewer years of education than employed women. This indicates that, although women require more years of education to have a job, they receive a lower salary than men.
Gap in domes
The report also presents the 2022 study by the Center for Work and Family of the University of Los Andes on career paths and inclusion of women. This indicates that when looking at “senior management and leadership positions, women only represent 18% of the main executive line of Chilean companies listed on the stock market. If we focus even more and look at board positions, the number drops to 15%.”
Meanwhile, in the health area, disparities are observed both in the use and costs of care in the private system. On average, women, just because they are women, pay between 6 and 10 UF more per year than a man. This is the finding of the study carried out in 2019 by Paula Carrasco, called “Is there gender discrimination in the private health system in Chile?”
However, the same study reveals that women are subject to an additional charge that is not consistent with the expense they generate. The Isapres argue to justify this that they use the system more. But even if that is taken into account, they still pay higher premiums than men.
Public health system
Discrimination also affects public health. It’s about sterilization. Although the State recognized the violation of the rights of a woman on whom this intervention was performed in 2002, more sterilizations have been detected in migrants. Although there is signed consent, this can be questioned because they are Haitian women, who do not speak or read Spanish easily.
The other point addresses law 21,030, which regulates the voluntary interruption of pregnancy on three grounds. Since its implementation, 822 women have had abortions after being raped. 33% were minors: 52% of the girls who had abortions were 14 years old or younger (142 cases) and 33% are only 13 years old (90).
Women and girls trying to access the procedure as victims of sexual assault encounter obstructions in health services. Currently, 43% of obstetricians in the public network are conscientious objectors in cases of rape, according to the Ministry of Health. This would represent a violation of the reproductive and sexual rights of pregnant people due to the high percentage of objectors. There is no obligation for public health facilities to have a replacement.
Poor pensions
The report recalls that in January 2022, Law 21,419 came into force, which created the Universal Guaranteed Pension (PGU). This can be Non-Contributory or Contributory, depending on whether the person who receives it does not have a pension system or a survivor’s pension, or if he or she has a pension system or receives a survivor’s pension, respectively.
The reality that women face when they retire is, to a large extent, a reflection of their career paths. These are trajectories that had interruptions due to their roles as mothers, wives and those responsible for domestic chores. Furthermore, they are very often in the informal labor market, without pension contributions.
All of this has a serious impact on access to decent pensions. Although the PGU seeks to provide pensions to a greater number of older people, and women are the largest beneficiaries of the non-contributory PGU, poverty among older adults continues to be an alarming situation.
The 2023 Human Rights Report can be downloaded here.
Ceremony for 8M
The INDH commemorated International Women’s Day with the “Meeting of Women Who Influence” ceremony. The event was attended by around a hundred guests, where recognitions were given to four outstanding people, valuing the participation of women and their contribution from various areas.
Rosa Devés, the first rector of the University of Chile, whose research in cellular physiology is recognized internationally, was recognized. Also, to Devanna de la Puente, gender advisor at the UN mission in Colombia, who defends the rights of women and girls in conflict zones.
In addition, Susana Collante, who is president of the Maipú Social Leaders Group and whose work seeks to enhance the role of social leaders in their territories, received the recognition. And finally Iona Rothfeld, professional footballer and president and founding partner of Anjuff.
Share an eleven
The event, led by Councilor Constanza Valdés, president of the Council’s Gender Commission, and the director of the INDH, Consuelo Contreras, sought to bring together women who work in science, culture, academia, sports, and the economy. , innovation and work in civil society. Thus, the objective was to develop an associated space to reflect and link practices that, although they have diverse origins, can generate interaction.
During the activity, the guests were able to share an eleven, through which they had the opportunity to delve deeper into the activities that each of them carries out. This was developed under the imprint of highlighting how fundamental respect for human rights and the elimination of any discrimination is.