For centuries women have contributed to household and national economies by providing care in the home to the young, sick, handicapped, elderly and dying.

This role has rarely been historically noticed or valued however in formal economics systems. The invisibility of the work in national accounts has created hardship for women, excluding them from legal, social or financial recognition for the caregiving years. The omission is linked to the poverty of women, the poverty of children and some instances to violence against women and absence of women in decision-making.....