#SDG5 GENDER EQUALITY

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Gender bias is undermining our social fabric and devalues all of us. It is not just a human rights issue; it is a tremendous waste of the world’s human potential. By denying women equal rights, we deny half the population a chance to live life at its fullest. Political, economic and social equality for women will benefit all the world’s citizens. Together we can eradicate prejudice and work for equal rights and respect for all.

Targets

Everyone can help to make sure that we meet the Global Goals. Use these targets to create action for gender equality.

5.1 END DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS

End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.

5.2 END ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST AND EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS

Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.

5.3 ELIMINATE FORCED MARRIAGES AND GENITAL MUTILATION

Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

5.4 VALUE UNPAID CARE AND PROMOTE SHARED DOMESTIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate.

5.5 ENSURE FULL PARTICIPATION IN LEADERSHIP AND DECISION-MAKING

Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

5.6 UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS

Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.

5.7 EQUAL RIGHTS TO ECONOMIC RESOURCES, PROPERTY OWNERSHIP AND FINANCIAL SERVICES

Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws.

5.8 PROMOTE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.

5.9 ADOPT AND STRENGTHEN POLICIES AND ENFORCEABLE LEGISLATION FOR GENDER EQUALITY

Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.

Thoughts

Ending all discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right, it’s crucial for sustainable future; it’s proven that empowering women and girls helps economic growth and development. UNDP has made gender equality central to its work and we’ve seen remarkable progress in the past 20 years. There are more girls in school now compared to 15 years ago, and most regions have reached gender parity in primary education. But although there are more women than ever in the labor market, there are still large inequalities in some regions, with women systematically denied the same work rights as men. Sexual violence and exploitation, the unequal division of unpaid care and domestic work, and discrimination in public office all remain huge barriers. Climate change and disasters continue to have a disproportionate effect on women and children, as do conflict and migration. It is vital to give women equal rights land and property, sexual and reproductive health, and to technology and the internet. Today there are more women in public office than ever before, but encouraging more women leaders will help achieve greater gender equality. 64% of women have reported attacks of violence/stalking in their lifetime. Wearable, personal safety devices can alert friends, family and the police when a woman is in trouble with varying threat levels. Wearables paired with devices attached to personal items or other valuables can alert a woman as the distance grows between her and her belongings when potential theft occurs.