5. Gender Equality

While the world has achieved progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment (including equal access to primary education between girls and boys), women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence in every part of the world.

Gender 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 fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large.

• About  two thirds of countries in the developing regions have achieved gender parity in primary education

• In sub-Saharan Africa, Oceania and Western Asia, girls still face barriers to entering both primary and secondary school.

• Women in Northern Africa hold less than one in five paid jobs in the non-agricultural sector. The proportion of women in paid employment outside the agriculture sector has increased from 35 per cent in 1990 to 41 per cent in 2015

• In 46 countries, women now hold more than 30 per cent of seats in national parliament in at least one chamber.

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

• End all forms of violence against women and girls, including sex trafficking and other forms of exploitation.

• End all practices and traditions that may impair the physical, mental and sexual health of women and girls.

• Recognise and value women’s work at home. Encourage women and girls to have equal opportunities to be heard and to have real opportunities to participate in all political, economic and public spheres.

• Protect women’s rights to sexual and reproductive health.

• Promote policies and laws to ensure gender equality including reforms to give women equal access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance, and natural resources.