While focusing primarily on gender equality, UN Social Development Goal (SDG) 5 is interlinked with, and has profound implications for, all SDG goals. As UN Women states:
“Women and girls, everywhere, must have equal rights and opportunity, and be able to live free of violence and discrimination. Women’s equality and empowerment is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, but also integral to all dimensions of inclusive and sustainable development. In short, all the SDGs depend on the achievement of Goal 5.” (UN Women 2020b)
According to the UN, reaching gender equality by 2030 requires urgent action to eliminate all the different kinds of discrimination that continues to restrain women’s rights in both private and public spheres (UN Economic and Social Council 2019). These discriminations range from gender-based violence, child marriages, and restrictions in sexual and reproductive rights to limited access to positions of power in political spheres and working life. Gender equality and women’s empowerment are thus central to the fulfilment of all SDGs.
This research has been conducted within the project “Social and Economic Sustainability of Future Working Life (WeAll)”, funded by the Strategic Research Council, Academy of Finland (292883).
Expected Date of Publication: Aug 2020