Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 5: Gender Equality

Summary

In 2015, the United Nations established 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at transforming the world by 2030. Goal 5, gender equality, seeks to empower women and girls, addressing disparities and harmful practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM). Despite progress, challenges persist, including underrepresentation in leadership, gender-based violence, and economic inequality. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues, highlighting the need for inclusive policies and actions to ensure gender equality and utilize women's potential fully.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The SDGs, established in 2015, consist of 17 global goals aimed at transforming the world by 2030 through various initiatives, including poverty eradication, fighting inequality, and addressing climate change.
• 🎯 Goal 5 focuses on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls, with nine specific targets to address disparities and harmful practices.
• 📉 Despite progress, women are still underrepresented in political leadership, and prejudicial laws and social norms persist, perpetuating gender inequality.
• 👥 Data from 87 countries indicates that one in five women and girls under 50 have experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner within the last 12 months.
• 💔 Child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) are prevalent harmful practices affecting millions of girls, with FGM being particularly concentrated in 30 countries, half of which are in West Africa.
• 📉 The prevalence of FGM has declined by one quarter since around 2000, but child marriage remains a significant issue, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• 💼 Women's economic empowerment is hindered by the gender pay gap, with women earning only 77 cents for every dollar men earn, and by limited representation in agricultural land ownership.
• 🏫 Education has seen improvements, with two-thirds of developing countries achieving gender parity in primary education, but challenges in secondary and higher education persist.
• 📊 The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing risks and problems for women, leading to a 'shadow pandemic' of increased domestic violence and job losses in insecure, informal, and lower-paying jobs.
• 🔄 UN Women emphasizes the importance of placing women and girls at the center of national responses to COVID-19 for impactful recovery and calls for inclusive policies.
• 🌟 Professor Emily Burrell highlights the role of African communities and organizations in combating gender inequality and the creative strategies used to challenge state practices and ensure women's rights are prioritized.

Q & A

What are the SDGs and when were they established?

The SDGs, or Sustainable Development Goals, were established in 2015 by the United Nations. They consist of 17 global goals aimed at addressing various issues such as poverty, inequality, and climate change by 2030.

How many targets and indicators are there within the 17 SDGs?

The 17 SDGs are made up of 169 targets and 230 indicators, providing a comprehensive framework for sustainable development.

What is the primary aim of SDG Goal 5?

SDG Goal 5 aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, addressing disparities and working towards a more equitable society.

What are some of the achievements in gender equality despite the ongoing disparities?

Achievements include fewer girls being forced into early marriages, increased representation of women in political offices and leadership positions, and the introduction of legislation that reforms discriminatory practices and advances gender equality.

What is the impact of harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM) on girls under 18?

Harmful practices like child marriage and FGM affect millions of girls under 18, with child marriage impacting 15 million girls annually and FGM affecting at least 200 million women in 30 countries where it is concentrated.

How does the COVID-19 pandemic potentially affect the progress towards ending child marriage and FGM?

The COVID-19 pandemic could set back progress towards ending child marriage and FGM due to school closures, widening poverty, and the increased vulnerability of girls.

What is the economic disparity between men and women according to the data from UNDP Africa?

According to UNDP Africa, women earn only 77 cents for every dollar that men earn for the same work, highlighting a significant economic disparity.

What percentage of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence, according to the data provided?

Data indicates that 35 percent of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence.

How does the COVID-19 pandemic impact women's employment, particularly in informal and lower-paying jobs?

The pandemic has led to job losses, particularly for women who hold the majority of insecure informal and lower-paying jobs, exacerbating the risks and problems they face.

What does UN Women argue is crucial for national responses to the COVID-19 pandemic?

UN Women argues that it is crucial for national responses to the pandemic to place women and girls at the center, focusing on their inclusion, representation, rights, social and economic outcomes, and protection.

What is the role of academic and research institutions like UNC's Center for African Studies in addressing SDG Goal 5?

Academic and research institutions play a vital role in engaging with SDG Goal 5 by conducting research, sharing insights, and developing strategies to combat gender inequality and promote gender rights.

What steps are needed to achieve gender equality according to the script?

Achieving gender equality requires bold, persistent, and sustainable actions targeting structural barriers and causes of discrimination against women, backed by appropriate laws, policies, funding, and strong accountability frameworks.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 SDGs: Transforming the World by 2030

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by 193 United Nations member states in 2015, encompass 17 global goals aimed at eradicating poverty, reducing inequality, and combating climate change by 2030. These goals are supported by 169 targets and 230 indicators, integrating social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainable development. Goal 5, focusing on gender equality, has made strides with more women in political leadership and fewer forced marriages, but disparities persist. Prejudicial laws, social norms, and harmful practices continue to impede progress. Data reveals that intimate partner violence and child marriage remain significant issues, with the potential for a global pandemic to exacerbate these challenges. The African context is highlighted, with concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on women's employment and safety, and the importance of including women in policy responses and recovery plans is emphasized.

05:01

🌟 Addressing Gender Inequality: The Way Forward

Despite progress, achieving gender equality remains a distant goal, especially considering the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and girls. The 'shadow pandemic' of increased domestic violence and job losses in insecure, informal sectors is a critical concern. UN Women advocates for national responses that prioritize women's inclusion, rights, and economic outcomes. Professor Emily Burrell from UNC Chapel Hill discusses the importance of legal aid organizations in African contexts, their work in challenging state laws, and the creative strategies employed to ensure women's rights remain a priority. The conclusion underscores the social and human potential costs of gender bias, calling for collective action to eradicate prejudice and achieve equal rights and respect for all.

10:04

🛡️ Bold Actions for Gender Equality

To achieve gender equality, persistent and sustainable actions are required to target structural barriers and the root causes of discrimination against women. This involves appropriate laws, policies, funding, and strong accountability frameworks. The role of various stakeholders, including academic institutions, governments, the private sector, civil society, and international organizations, is crucial in this endeavor. The summary calls for collective efforts to learn more about the SDGs in Africa and to visit www.sdgc.africa.org for further information, emphasizing the need for a unified approach to overcome gender inequality and unlock the full potential of the world's population.

Keywords

💡SDGs

SDGs stands for Sustainable Development Goals, which are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations in 2015 to be achieved by 2030. These goals encompass a wide range of social, economic, and environmental development issues. In the video, SDGs are the central theme as they aim to change the world through various targets and indicators, including poverty eradication, fighting inequality, and addressing climate change.

💡Gender Equality

Gender Equality is one of the 17 SDGs, specifically Goal 5, which seeks to achieve equality between women and men and empower all women and girls. The video emphasizes the importance of gender equality as a fundamental right and a foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world, highlighting the progress made and the challenges that still remain, such as underrepresentation in political leadership and harmful practices like child marriage.

💡Targets

Targets within the SDGs are specific objectives that define the expected outcomes for each goal. For instance, Goal 5 has nine targets aimed at various aspects of gender equality, such as ending discrimination against women and girls and ensuring equal opportunities in education and employment. The script mentions these targets to illustrate the breadth of actions required to achieve gender equality.

💡Indicators

Indicators are the measurable variables used to monitor progress towards the SDGs. The script mentions that the 17 SDGs consist of 169 targets and 230 indicators, which help in tracking the effectiveness of policies and initiatives in achieving the goals.

💡Poverty Eradication

Poverty Eradication is a key aspect of the SDGs, aiming to end poverty in all its forms everywhere. The video script identifies it as one of the goals that can change the world by 2030, emphasizing the interconnectedness of poverty with other issues like education, health, and gender equality.

💡Climate Change

Climate Change is a pressing global issue that is addressed within the SDGs, particularly in Goal 13, which calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. The video script mentions the urgency of addressing climate change as part of the SDGs, indicating the need for sustainable development that considers environmental impacts.

💡Violence Against Women

Violence Against Women is a pervasive issue that the video script discusses in the context of SDG 5. It includes physical, sexual, and psychological harm inflicted on women and girls, which is highlighted as a continuing problem that undermines gender equality and requires persistent action for its eradication.

💡Child Marriage

Child Marriage is identified in the script as a harmful practice that affects millions of girls under the age of 18 every year. It is a human rights violation that not only impacts the girl's education and health but also perpetuates the cycle of poverty and inequality. The video emphasizes the need to end child marriage as part of achieving gender equality.

💡Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Female Genital Mutilation, or FGM, is a grave human rights violation mentioned in the script as a prevalent harmful practice in Africa. It affects at least 200 million women in 30 countries, with the video script noting the efforts to reduce its prevalence and the importance of addressing this issue in achieving gender equality.

💡COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 Pandemic is discussed in the script as a global crisis that has exacerbated existing inequalities and challenges, particularly for women and girls. It has led to a 'shadow pandemic' of increased domestic violence and job losses, particularly affecting women in insecure and lower-paying jobs, thus highlighting the need for inclusive pandemic responses.

💡Policy Brief

A Policy Brief mentioned in the script is a document that outlines the impact of COVID-19 on women and argues for the necessity of placing women and girls at the center of national responses to the pandemic. It underscores the importance of recognizing women's roles in recovery and ensuring their inclusion, representation, and rights in policy-making.

💡Accountability

Accountability in the context of the video script refers to the responsibility of various stakeholders, including governments, institutions, and individuals, to ensure that actions are taken to achieve gender equality. It is emphasized as a crucial element for the success of the SDGs, requiring laws, policies, funding, and strong frameworks to hold entities responsible for progress.

Highlights

In 2015, the UN established 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at transforming the world by 2030 through poverty eradication, fighting inequality, and addressing climate change.

The SDGs consist of 169 targets and 230 indicators, integrating social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainable development.

Goal 5 focuses on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls, with nine specific targets.

Despite progress, disparities remain, with women still facing underrepresentation in political leadership and enduring harmful social norms and practices.

Global data reveals that one in five women and girls under 50 have experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner.

Child marriage, affecting 15 million girls under 18 annually, is a significant issue, with the COVID-19 pandemic potentially exacerbating this problem.

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a grave human rights violation impacting at least 200 million women, with a decline in prevalence since 2000.

The risk of child marriage is highest in Sub-Saharan Africa, affecting over one in three women aged 20 to 24.

African women earn 77 cents for every dollar men earn for the same work, highlighting the gender pay gap.

35% of women have experienced physical or sexual violence, indicating the pervasiveness of gender-based violence.

Women represent only 13% of agricultural land holders, pointing to gender inequality in land ownership.

Almost 750 million women and girls alive today were married before their 18th birthday, emphasizing the scale of child marriage.

Two-thirds of developing countries have achieved gender parity in primary education, showing progress in educational equality.

As of November 2018, only 24% of national parliamentarians were women, a slight increase from 11.3% in 1995.

COVID-19 has increased risks and problems for women, leading to a 'shadow pandemic' of domestic violence and job loss.

UN Women calls for national responses to the pandemic to prioritize women's inclusion, representation, rights, and protection.

Professor Emily Burrell discusses the importance of legal aid organizations in challenging state laws and promoting women's rights in Africa.

Gender bias undermines social fabric and devalues human potential; achieving gender equality requires bold, persistent, and sustainable actions.

Everyone, including academic institutions, governments, the private sector, and the public, must contribute to achieving gender equality.

Transcripts

[Music]

what are the sdgs in 2015

world leaders of 193 member states of

the united nation

agreed to 17 global goals

officially known as the sustainable

development goals

and pronounced sdgs these goals were

carefully identified as having the

potential to change the world by 2030

through poverty eradication fighting

inequality

and addressing the urgency of climate

change the 17 goals constitute of 169

targets and 230

indicators the global goals are

ambitious but achievable

it integrates all three aspects of

sustainable development

and they are social economic

and environmental goal 5

gender equality goal 5's target is to

achieve gender equality

and empower all women and girls

there are nine targets in goal five

our world today is a better place for

women than it was in the past

but disparities still remain

there are fewer girls forced into early

marriages

there are more political offices for

women serving in parliaments and

positions of leadership

there are favorable legislations that

reform discriminatory practices

and advance gender equality

despite these gains prejudicial laws and

social norms

persist and harmful practices

and other forms of violence against

women and girls continue

barriers to women's sexual and

reproductive health and rights

prevail despite more representation in

public offices

women continue to be underrepresented at

all levels

of political leadership

[Music]

based on data from 87 countries

one in five women and girls under the

age of 50

will have experienced physical and

or sexual violence by an intimate

partner

within the last 12 months

harmful practices such as child marriage

still the childhood of 15 million girls

under age 18

every year it is feared that a global

pandemic

could set back progress to end child

marriage and female genital

mutilation a prevalent harmful practice

in africa

is the female genital mutilation

female genital mutilation fgm for short

is a grave human rights violation that

affects at least

200 million women in the 30 countries

where the practice

is concentrated half of the 30 countries

is in west africa on average the

prevalence of fgm

has declined by one quarter since around

2000.

marriage before the age of 18 is a human

rights

violation today the risk

of child marriage is highest in

sub-saharan africa

where more than one in three women

between the ages of

20 and 24 were married before the age of

18.

school closures and widening poverty as

a result of the pandemic

could put more girls at risk

undp africa shares the following data

women earn only 77 cents for every

dollar

that men get for the same walk

35 percent of women have experienced

physical

and or sexual violence

women represent just 13 of agricultural

land holders

almost 750 million women and girls alive

today

were married before their 18th birthday

two-thirds of developing countries have

achieved gender parity

and primary education and lastly

only 24 of national parliamentarians

were women as of november 2018

a small increase from 11.3 percent

in 1995. future landscape

what is the way forward despite africa

leading the world in appointing female

legislators

at 24.2 percent compared to the world

average of 23.6 percent

african women are still more likely than

men to be in vulnerable

employment the goal of achieving a fair

and equal world for every woman and girl

remains unfulfilled and even more

distant now

since women and girls are the hardest

hits by the covid19 pandemic

covid19 has exacerbated the many risks

and problems that women

are already exposed to thereby causing a

shadow pandemic

this shadow pandemic is sent in to

mention only two

the rise in domestic violence for girls

and women

and loss of jobs for women who hold

majority of

insecure informal and lower paying jobs

in an april 2020 policy brief

on the impact of kovid 19 on women

u.n women argues for why it is crucial

for all national responses to place

women and girls

their inclusion representation rights

social and economic outcomes equality

and protection

at the center if the responses are to

have the necessary

impact the brief backs its position up

as follows

and i quote women will be the hardest

hit

by this pandemic but they will also be

the backbone of recovery in communities

every policy response that recognizes

this

will be the more impactful for it

the united nations recommends that as

governments enact fiscal relief measures

they must build economic and social

policies that place women's economic

lives

at the heart of the pandemic response

and recovery plans

including putting cash in women's hands

and extending basic protections to

informal workers

unc's faculty and research engaging with

this goal

professor emily burrell is associate

professor with the department

of history and women's and gender

studies

at unc chapel hill she is also

the director of the university's center

for african studies

professor burrell shares her thoughts

with us

sdg goal number five states that gender

equality is not only a fundamental right

but a necessary foundation for a

peaceful prosperous

and sustainable world african

communities

and african organizations have done a

tremendous amount of work

in the recent past to combat challenges

to gender inequality

such as girls encumbered access to

school

forced marriages and violence against

women and girls

i continue in my own research as a

historian

who looks at law and society to be

very inspired and interested in the work

that women's legal aid organizations are

doing

in different african contexts for

example

aid organizations legal aid

organizations

have done a tremendous amount of work in

trying to

broker the communication between

local community groups on the ground in

different communities

and the ways that states organize

and pass different kinds of laws that

govern the formal arenas

and access to access to resources

even though there are significant

limitations to the work that the law can

do

i am really interested in the fact that

there are different creative strategies

that african organizations are using to

challenge the state for example so uh in

in many cases what we see are examples

of local

legal aid societies engaging the african

court of human rights

in order to put pressure on states these

are

creative deft approaches and strategies

for making sure that women's rights and

girls rights stay

on the forefront of priorities and

agendas

in conclusion 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

to achieve gender equality bold

persistent and sustainable actions

targeting structural barriers

and causes of discrimination against

women is needed

this should be backed up by the

appropriate laws and policies

funding and strong accountability

frameworks

for the goals to be met everyone needs

to do

their part academic and research

institutions

governments the private sector

civil society bilateral and multilateral

institutions the development community

and the general public to learn more

about the sdgs in africa

please visit www.sdgc

africa.org

[Music]

you