Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2015

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a key part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is the shared framework for inclusive and sustainable development adopted by all United Nations Member States at a special summit in 2015. The 17 SDGs and 169 targets seek to build on the Millennium Development Goals and are an urgent call for action by all countries – developed and developing – in a global partnership. Eliminating gender-based violence is a priority within Agenda 2030 and the 17 SDGs. There is a dedicated goal on gender equality: Goal 5. However gender equality is also ‘mainstreamed’ across all goals.

 

In SDG 5 there are two dedicated targets to eliminating violence against women and girls and cache target has two indicators by which progress is measured:

Target 5.2: Eliminating all forms of VAWG in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.

• 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months, by form of violence and by age
• 5.2.2: Proportion of women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to sexual violence by persons other than an intimate partner in the previous 12 months, by age and place of occurrence

Target 5.3: Eliminating all harmful practices, including child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

• 5.3.1: Proportion of women aged 20 – 24 years who were married or in a union before age 15 and before age 18
• 5.3.2: Proportion of girls and women aged 15 – 49 years who have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting, by age

 

Goal 5 GENDER EQUALITY

Ending all discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right, it’s crucial for sustainable future; it’s proven that empowering women and girls helps economic growth and development.

UNDP has made gender equality central to its work and we’ve seen remarkable progress in the past 20 years. There are more girls in school now compared to 15 years ago, and most regions have reached gender parity in primary education.

But although there are more women than ever in the labour market, there are still large inequalities in some regions, with women systematically denied the same work rights as men. Sexual violence and exploitation, the unequal division of unpaid care and domestic work, and discrimination in public office all remain huge barriers. Climate change and disasters continue to have a disproportionate effect on women and children, as do conflict and migration.

It is vital to give women equal rights land and property, sexual and reproductive health, and to technology and the internet. Today there are more women in public office than ever before, but encouraging more women leaders will help achieve greater gender equality.