This document by Laura Pautassi, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), introduces the theoretical arguments that have led to recognizing care as a human right and the social and political mobilization underpinning its implementation.

The Starting Point summarizes the main elements that have contributed to problematizing the sexual division of labor and care, conceptualizing care in its multipledefinitions from a Latin American and feminist perspective.

The following section uses a gender and human rights approach to lay the foundations for recognizing care as a human right. The paper concludes with recommendations to develop an agenda to realize the right urgently.

This work illustrates references to the link between the COVID-19 pandemic and care, as well as public policy recommendations that incorporate the obligations of the human right to care.