SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)

Goal 5 Gender Equality

"Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls."

What is gender equality? Gender equality means that the different behaviour, aspirations and needs
of women and men are considered, valued and favoured equally. It does not mean that women and
men have to become the same, but that their rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not
depend on whether they are born male or female.

Purpose of gender equality

Gender equality is intrinsically linked to sustainable development and is vital to the realization of
human rights for all. The overall objective of gender equality is a society in which women and men
enjoy the same opportunities, rights and obligations in all spheres of life.

Equality between men and women exists when both sexes are able to share equally in the
distribution of power and influence; have equal opportunities for financial independence through
work or through setting up businesses; enjoy equal access to education and the opportunity to
develop personal ambitions, interests and talents; share responsibility for the home and children
and are completely free from coercion, intimidation and gender-based violence both at work and at
home.
However it is important to acknowledge that where gender inequality exists, it is generally women
who are excluded or disadvantaged in relation to decision-making and access to economic and
social resources. Therefore a critical aspect of promoting gender equality is the empowerment of
women, with a focus on identifying and redressing power imbalances and giving women more
autonomy to manage their own lives. This would enable them to make decisions and take actions to
achieve and maintain their own reproductive and sexual health. Gender equality and women’s
empowerment do not mean that men and women become the same; only that access to
opportunities and life changes is neither dependent on, nor constrained by, their sex.

According to the UN, g" ender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary
foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world." Providing women and girls with
equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and
economic decision-making processes will nurture sustainable economies and benefit societies
and humanity at large. A record 143 countries guaranteed equality between men and women in
their constitutions as of 2014. However, another 52 had not taken this step. In many nations,
gender discrimination is still woven into the fabric of legal systems and social norms. Even
though SDG5 is a stand-alone goal, other SDGs can only be achieved if the needs of women
receive the same attention as the needs of men. Issues unique to women and girls include
traditional practices against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, such as
female genital mutilation.

Child Marriage C( hild marriage is a marriage or similar union, formal or informal, between an
adult and a child or youth under a certain age, typically age eighteen) has declined over the past
decades, yet there is no region that is currently on track to eliminate the practice and reach SDG
targets by 2030. If current trends continue, between 2017 and 2030, 150 million girls will be
married before they turn 18. Though child marriages are four times higher among the poorest
than the wealthiest in the world, most countries need to accelerate progress among both
groups in order to reach the SDG Goal 5 target to eliminate child marriage by 2030.

Achieving gender equality will require enforceable legislation that promotes empowerment of
all women and girls and requires secondary education for all girls. The targets call for an end to
gender discrimination and for empowering women and girls through technology Some have
advocated for "listening to girls". The assertion is that the SDGs can deliver transformative
change for girls only if girls are consulted. Their priorities and needs must be taken into
account. Girls should be viewed not as beneficiaries of change, but as agents of change.
Engaging women and girls in the implementation of the SDGs is crucial.

Targets

End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere

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

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

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

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

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

Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications

technology, to promote the empowerment of women

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.

But, Why Should Gender Equality Matter To Me?

Regardless of where you live in, gender equality is a fundamental human right. Advancing
gender equality is critical to all areas of a healthy society, from reducing poverty to promoting
the health, education, protection and the well-being of girls and boys. Investing in education
programmes for girls and increasing the age at which they marry can return $5 for every dollar
spent. Investing in programs improving income-generating activities for women can return $7
dollars for every dollar spent.

How Does Gender Inequality Affect Women?

Disadvantages in education translate into lack of access to skills and limited opportunities
in the labour market. Women’s and girls’ empowerment is essential to expand economic
growth and promote social development. The full participation of women in labour forces
would add percentage points to most national growth rates— double digits in many cases.

What Can We Do To Fix These Issues?

If you are a girl, you can stay in school, help empower your female classmates to do the same
and fight for your right to access sexual and reproductive health services. If you are a woman,
you can address biases and implicit associations that form an unintended and often an
invisible barrier to equal opportunity. If you are a man or a boy, you can work alongside women
and girls to achieve gender equality and embrace healthy, respectful relationships. You can
fund education campaigns to curb cultural practices like female genital mutilation and change
harmful laws that limit the rights of women and girls and prevent them from achieving their full
potential.

*Questions & Answers (Interactive Session)