National Gender Equality

Gender equality is intrinsically linked to sustainable development: women represent half the world’s population, yet face systemic deprivations relative to men in all societies.

Gender equality is a right. Fulfilling this right is the best chance we have in meeting some of the most pressing challenges of our time—from economic crisis and lack of health care, to climate change, violence against women and escalating conflicts.

The transition from seeing women merely as those more affected by these issues, to seeing them as capable leaders and problem-solvers in the development and activation of solutions required to chart a path to progress is needed to tackle the deeply rooted issues of gender-based discrimination that pose an obstacle to the realization of sustainable development, and undermine transformative potential of development action.

Gender inequalities remain pervasive in each and every dimension of sustainable development. And unless appropriate action is taken to advance gender equality, the promise of the 2030 Agenda—of a better world, with universal respect for human rights and dignity and full realization of human potential—will go unrealized.