In Latin America, we’re not just recognizing care work – we’re rebuilding economies around it

Every day, women and girls in Latin America spend up to three times more hours on unpaid care work than men: cooking, cleaning, caring for children, and supporting the sick and elderly. Step back, and the scale is staggering: Globally, 12.5 billion hours of unpaid care work are done every single day – mostly by women and girls, often without a break, paycheck, or a choice.  

But what if care wasn’t invisible? What if it was shared, valued, and properly supported? 

Across Latin America, a care revolution is underway. With UN Women’s expertise and support, 17 countries [1] are working to redesign how care is recognized, funded, and delivered. Governments, private sector companies, women and communities are rewriting the rules, turning what was once considered a woman’s unpaid job into public policy, services, and a shared responsibility. 

Because investing in care doesn’t just ease the load – it unlocks the potential of entire societies.