Global Push Recognizes Care as Human Right Elevating Workers' Status

The recognition of care as a fundamental human right is gaining momentum globally, particularly in the Americas, where the Inter-American Court of Human Rights has affirmed this right and urged states to improve access and support for carers. This development aligns with increasing international efforts, including the ratification of ILO Convention 156, which advocates for better working conditions and social protections for workers with family responsibilities, and the building of publicly-run care systems. Governments and organizations emphasize the critical role of care work in sustaining economies and societies, with a strong focus on gender equality, as unpaid care responsibilities disproportionately affect women, limiting their labor market participation and leadership opportunities. High-level events and cooperative initiatives across countries highlight the need to integrate care policies into broader agendas, including climate, migration, and humanitarian sectors, and to invest in upskilling care workers. Institutions like the Hospital Internacional de Colombia exemplify the integration of care and education, training health professionals who embody both scientific expertise and humanistic values to serve diverse communities. These advances reflect a growing political and social commitment to making care rights central to labor and social policy, with ongoing campaigns targeting further ratifications and implementations of care-related conventions.