Together for visible and valued care work on the International Day of Care and Support

Caring for others should never be invisible – this was the message marking the International Day of Care and Support, held on 29 October 2025 in Belgrade. The event brought together representatives of institutions, civil society and the private sector, as well as caregivers who provide daily support to family members, people with chronic illnesses and persons with disabilities.

Informal caregivers, most often family members, provide more than 80 per cent of total care in society. Nevertheless, their work remains unrecognized and often unpaid. As the Minister without Portfolio in charge of Gender Equality, Prevention of Violence against Women, and Economic and Political Empowerment of Women Tatjana Macura emphasized, unpaid care work carries enormous social and economic value. “Women in Serbia spend twice as much time as men on housework and family care. Such an unequal division of responsibilities affects their professional and financial position, as well as society as a whole. Care must become a shared responsibility of the state, the community and families.”

“We want to advocate for regulations that protect caregivers, ensure fair compensation and promote gender equality in sharing care responsibilities. Let us build a society where care is not only a private burden but a shared public responsibility. We call on all – decision makers, healthcare workers, civil society organizations and leaders – to join us in shaping a future where care is valued, supported and shared,” said H.E. Charlotte Sammelin, Ambassador of Sweden to the Republic of Serbia.

Data show that women perform as much as 76 per cent of unpaid care work, and it is estimated that by 2030, 2.3 billion people worldwide will depend on the care and support of others. Milana Rikanović, Head of UN Women Serbia, highlighted that care is both a gender equality and an economic issue: “Care is not only a moral, but also an economic question. The value of unpaid care work performed by women in Serbia is estimated at about one fifth of the country’s GDP. UN Women supports changing the way we understand and value care – through economic analyses, legal recommendations and support for local initiatives that strengthen caregivers.”

Participants agreed that it is necessary to develop systemic mechanisms to recognize and support caregivers – through the right to leave, accessible services, training and psychosocial support. As an example of good practice from the private sector, a new regional initiative by the company Merck was presented, which allows employees ten days of paid leave per year to care for a family member, along with additional counselling and training opportunities. The event also brought together representatives of patient associations and caregivers, who shared their personal experiences and spoke about the challenges and needs of those who provide care for others.

Informal caregivers take pride in their role, but the support they deserve is not only a matter of human rights - it is a social investment that benefits everyone. It is time for their work to become visible, recognized and valued.

This activity was implemented with the support of the joint project “Ending Violence – Achieving Equality”, carried out by UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and UN Women in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Serbia, with the support of the Government of Sweden.