Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 11/2010

A Gender Perspective on 21st Century Welfare Reform

Janet Veitch

October 2010

Oxfam Publishing

Abstract

This paper is a response to the coalition government’s consultation paper, 21st Century Welfare. It provides a gender analysis of the potential impact of the welfare reform proposals, particularly on women living in poverty and in receipt of benefits / tax credits, and highlights the potential negative impact on women which has not been adequately addressed by the government. Oxfam calls on the Government to carry out a detailed gender and equality impact assessment of the costs and benefits of the developed welfare reform proposals once they are published, using the principles set out in this report.