Women Rule!

Women Rule!

Ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right, it has many other benefits. When women are treated fairly good things happen for everyone. More girls are now in school than 15 years ago, and most regions have reached gender parity in primary education. Women now make up to just under half of all paid workers outside of agriculture, and this is always increasing.

There are still inequalities against women when it comes to paid employment in some regions, and there are still large gaps between men and women in the labour market. Sexual violence and exploitation, the unequal division of unpaid care and domestic work, and discrimination in public decision making remain problems. 

There are still not enough women in politics, especially leadership, unless there are dedicated plans to include them. When that happens many more women are elected at both national and local levels.

There has been progress in reforming laws towards improving gender equality over the past 25 years, but gaps in legal protection still remain. Violence against women is accepted in too many countries and too many of them don’t really think women working in the household for little or nothing is a problem.

By directly empowering women and by bringing a gender perspective to all development work, we can build a more equitable, sustainable future for all. 

The main parts of the Promise (SDG) 5 are:

To end all forms of violence against all women and girls, including trafficking, sexual and other types of exploitation

To eliminate all harmful practices, like child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation

To recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate

To ensure women’s full and effective participation in leadership at all levels of political, economic and public life

To ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.

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

To enhance the use of technology to promote the empowerment of women, in particular information and communications technology. 

To adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

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