#5 – Gender Equality

Other than being a basic human right, gender equality is a key ingredient in societal development. Over the last few decades, the world of women has witnessed remarkable progress, with more girls going to school, more women serving in parliament and positions of leadership, and laws being reformed to advance gender equality.

Despite the significant leap, statistics show that there are many challenges left to tackle. In 18 countries, husbands can legally forbid their wives from working and in 39 countries, daughters and sons do not have equal inheritance rights.

There are 49 countries which have not yet put out laws that protect women from domestic violence. One in five women and girls, including 19% of women and girls aged 15 to 49, have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner within the last 12 months.

In politics, women made breakthroughs but continue to be underrepresented at all levels of political leadership with less than 25% representation in national parliaments on average. Parties engaged in achieving SDG 5 are seeking to provide women and girls with equal access to education, technology, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes. This will nurture sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large.