Objetive 5: Gender equality

Facilitating equality for women and girls in access to education, medical assistance, decent jobs, and representation in processes of political and economic decision-making —as addressed in Objective 5 (Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls)— means fomenting sustainable economies and societies and Humankind as a whole would benefit at the same time.

While it is true that violence against women and girls does not appear to be the heritage of any country —although their lives are worth more in some than others—, there are huge differences in the role women play in different societies, due to their different access to education or to work outside the home. Thus, while in some Muslim countries women are second class citizens and have to hide their face and bodies from the looks of strangers, in others they reach important degrees of equality, competing with men to take up posts with political responsibility, which are relevant for the development of society.

Even though data about the marriage of young girls or female genital mutilation or ablation have improved, this is not happening quickly enough and physical or sexual violence, indeed both, at the hands of a partner is stil much too widespread.

One of the goals of Objective 5 is to end all kinds of discrimination, violence and harmful practices against all the women and girls in the world, and recognition of the care and unpaid housework they provide, or ensuring complete and effective participation of women and equal opportunity of leadership at all important political, economic and public levels.