Women’s Rights in the 21st Century

In the past half century, a wave of feminism has raised awareness and prompted governments to gradually codify women’s rights. But the struggle is far from over. Women still face gender inequality and discrimination in four key legal domains – economic, political, labour and body rights. And the gains have been uneven across countries.

Around 2.4 billion women of working age do not have access to equal economic opportunities. Women remain less likely to hold professional jobs, have lower incomes, are disproportionately burdened with household and care responsibilities, and have more limited mobility than men. And 178 countries restrict women’s freedom to enter the labour market and relegate them to low-wage, poorly paid and unregulated work.

Nevertheless, the global landscape has changed significantly since the first World Conference on Women in 1975. The number of female parliamentarians and ministers has increased, but many countries have a long way to go in reaching parity. Maternal mortality rates have fallen dramatically, but infant mortality is rising and many women have a low standard of living. Women are more likely than men to be poor and in poverty, with two-thirds of them living in sub-Saharan Africa.

The emergence of mass-membership women’s organizations has also contributed to the advancement of women’s rights. Organizations such as the International Council of Women, the International Labour Organisation and NGOs such as Amnesty International have worked to shape politics and policy through their advocacy. These organisations are rooted in grassroots movements that bring together women from all walks of life – from activists and human rights defenders to business owners, philanthropists and community leaders.

While the global progress on women’s rights has been significant, there are signs of a backslide in recent years. The Women’s March in January 2017 marked the largest single day of protest for women’s rights in history, but violence against women and girls continued to rise.

The challenge for countries is to unlock women’s potential by investing in legal equality, including enshrining laws on the pay gap, equal access to education and childcare, and ending discrimination against lone mothers. And once these progressive laws are in place, governments must robustly implement them.

Ultimately, to fully realize women’s rights, we must also have an ideological shift towards gender equality. This requires addressing fundamental beliefs and practices that enforce a hierarchy of sexes, as well as tackling discriminatory attitudes that affect all groups in society. This can only be achieved through non-sexist education, which is a vital component of the fight against sexual and gender-based violence. The time to act is now. Twenty years on from the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the women of the world know what is needed to reach gender equality and it’s time for governments to commit to achieving it. The International Council of Women has launched a campaign to pressure nations to take the next step. To find out more, visit our website.

Policies to Close Gender Inequality Gaps

Gender inequality harms people everywhere – whether as women denied their rights, girls excluded from education or boys recruited into armed groups. It prevents people from being able to take full advantage of economic opportunities and, ultimately, to enjoy their lives. Addressing it should be the top priority for all governments if they want to reduce poverty and create prosperous, sustainable societies.

After decades of seemingly continuous progress, recent years have seen a slowdown and even regress on key measures of gender equality. This article surveys current levels and trends of gender inequality worldwide, explains why this has happened and identifies policies that can accelerate the decline in gender gaps.

To be effective, policy actions must address both the symptoms and the root causes of gender gaps. Symptoms include the lack of women’s access to jobs, the inability to invest in their human capital and a failure to pass on economic benefits to future generations. The roots of gender gaps include a combination of gender bias (e.g., discriminatory laws and customs), preference / comparative advantage between men and women, and limited policy options to counter gender bias.

Ideally, reforms would target these root causes directly, but that seems to be a long-term challenge given the time needed to change attitudes and norms. In the meantime, some policies have greater impact on the root causes – such as legal reforms to remove gender barriers or educational programs that focus on the issue. Others are more effective at addressing the symptoms – such as family planning and financial access policies that have an immediate effect on women’s ability to make decisions that affect their lives.

Some gaps have closed as a result of policies, but others remain stubbornly persistent. This is often because the policies have not been targeted at the root causes or are only partially successful (e.g., in the case of tertiary enrollment rates). The COVID-19 pandemic also exacerbated gender inequality by disproportionately harming women (Albanesi and Kim 2021).

The fact that most global indicators have not progressed as expected underscores that there are still important challenges ahead. In addition, policies must not contribute to the evaporation of the gains that have already been made. As such, policies should not only be designed to address gender inequality but must ensure that they are implemented well. This requires better and more standardized data, including on time use, so that countries can track progress in improving gender equality, while ensuring that the benefits of reducing inequality are fully realized by everyone.

HK Lotto 6D: Keberuntungan dalam jangkauan Anda

Dalam alam gambling, tidak ada yang sebanding dengan kegembiraan yang ditawarkan dari HK Lotto 6D. Menjadi salah satu permainan paling populer di Hongkong, setiap undian memberikan harapan baru untuk beberapa pemain agar mendapatkan keberuntungan dan mengganti nasib mereka. Menggunakan metode yang transparan serta mudah diakses, sejumlah orang kini bisa mengikuti live HK serta live draw HK secara real-time, menyaksikan setiap detik tahapan lotre yang mendebarkan.

Togel Hongkong telah menjadi mitos, menarik perhatian tidak hanya dari penduduk lokal namun bahkan pemain dari seluruh berbagai belahan dunia. Salah satu magnet utama adalah kapan pun dan di mana saja Anda bisa mendapatkan informasi dengan live draw hongkong pools ataupun menyaksikan hasil terkini dari result hk lotto. Melalui kemudahan akses ke informasi terkini, pemain dapat dengan cepat mengetahuinya apakah mereka beruntung, yang menjadikan setiap undian tidak hanya sebuah game, tetapi juga sebuah pengalaman yang mendebarkan.

Strategi Bermain HK Lotto 6D

Bermain HK Lotto 6D amat mudah dan mengasyikkan. Awalnya, Anda perlu menentukan 6 angka dari nol hingga sembilan. Angka-angka ini akan menjadi kombinasi yang Anda taruhkan. Pastikan untuk memilih nomor yang Anda anggap membawa keberuntungan. Tahapan pemilihan dapat diadakan secara manual atau dengan taktik tertentu berlandaskan hasil yang lalu.

Sesudah Anda menentukan nomor, tahap berikutnya adalah membeli tiket. Anda dapat membeli tiket secara online melalui situs resmi Hongkong Pools atau di perwakilan resmi yang menyediakan jasa togel Hongkong. Krucial untuk mengecek bahwa Anda mendapatkan kupon dari sumber yang tepercaya untuk menjauhkan diri dari penipuan. Periksa juga tipe kompetisi yang Anda tentukan, apakah itu 4D, lima digit, atau mungkin enam digit, berdasarkan pada preferensi Anda.

Sesudah tiket dibeli, Anda tinggal mengharapkan hasil dari pengundian langsung HK. Hasil tersebut biasanya disiarkan langsung melalui beragam saluran, seperti web resmi dan media sosial. Apabila angka yang Anda pilih cocok dengan hasil yang diberitakan, Anda diizinkan untuk memenangkan hadiah menarik. Pastikan mengingat untuk bermain dengan penuh pertimbangan dan bertanggung jawab!

Output dan Data Lotere HK

Output togel HK selalu dinantikan oleh banyak pemain dan pecinta lotere. Setiap undian, baik melalui pengundian langsung HK atau lewat situs online, memberikan kesempatan bagi sejumlah orang untuk merasakan kebahagiaan dan keberuntungan. Statistik menunjukkan bahwa munculnya angka-angka spesifik tampak dengan kebaruan yang bervariasi, memberikan panduan bagi pemain untuk menentukan nomor mereka di setiap kali permainan.

Data dari output togel HK sebelum ini menunjukkan ciri tertentu yang dapat menolong pemain dalam mengambil keputusan. Misalnya, beberapa angka sangat mungkin lebih sering muncul dalam sejumlah periode jika dibandingkan dengan angka yang lain. Mengetahui statistik ini bisa jadi keuntungan khusus ketika mengikuti dalam undian HK Lotto, serta melipatgandakan peluang untuk menang.

Selain itu, melalui platform seperti Hasil Hongkong, pemain dapat secara praktis mengakses output dan statistik terkini. Data ini sangat penting, karena memfasilitasi pemain untuk menganalisis dan mencermati tren yang kemungkinan berpengaruh pada output undian di waktu yang akan datang. Terapkan selalu perhatikan hasil HK Lotto hari ini untuk selalu up-to-date dengan peluang yang ada. HK Lotto

Strategi Meningkatkan Peluang Menang

Untuk meningkatkan peluang Anda dalam bermain HK Lotto 6D, krusial untuk melakukan riset dulu. Analisis pola dan kecenderungan dari hasil-hasil lampau, seperti angka yang banyak tampil dan susunan yang mungkin memberikan keuntungan. Dengan memahami statistik ini, Anda bisa membuat keputusan yang lebih informed ketika memilih nomor yang akan dipertaruhkan.

Selain itu, pertimbangkan untuk bermain dengan konsisten dan tidak terburu-buru dalam memilih angka. Menggunakan metode misalnya sistem rekursi atau mengambil nomor berdasarkan tanggal-tanggal penting bisa adalah taktik yang efektif. Fokus pada konsistensi, dan jangan segans untuk uji susunan baru pada setiap undian dilaksanakan.

Terakhir, luangkan waktu untuk menggunakan komunitas togel untuk berbagi informasi dan tips. Bergabung dengan forum atau grup diskusi terkait HK Lotto dapat memberikan Anda wawasan tambahan dan dukungan dari pemain lainnya. Ingatlah untuk selalu bermain dengan cermat dan mengatur budget, sehingga Anda dapat menikmati pengalaman bebas dari tekanan.

Sexual Violence – It’s Not Your Fault

Sexual violence takes many forms and can impact people of all ages, genders, religions, ethnicities, and economic classes. It can be done by someone you know or by a stranger. It can happen in rural areas, small towns, or larger cities. Regardless of where it happens, it’s not your fault and it’s never okay for anyone to hurt you.

Sexual trauma impacts mental health and can have long-lasting effects. People who have experienced sexual violence may experience a variety of symptoms including anxiety, depression, self-harm, somatic (body) complaints, trouble concentrating and eating disorders. Sexual assault and rape can also cause survivors to lose trust in others as well as themselves.

The most common form of sexual violence is coercive sex. Coercion can take the form of physical force, threats of harm or even blackmailing. It can also include non-physical force such as emotional intimidation, manipulation or psychological pressure. All types of coercion are a form of sexual violence and all forms of sexual violence are wrong and illegal.

When a person experiences sexual violence it can be very confusing, especially if they don’t know what happened to them. The feelings they have are real and it’s important for them to talk about them with a trusted adult. Survivors can experience a wide range of emotions including anger, sadness and guilt. They can also have difficulty sleeping or concentrating. They might start to avoid certain places or people and be very sensitive around their body parts where the abuse took place. Some survivors try to numb their bodies in order to avoid feeling the pain and they can start to self-injure.

It can be difficult to get accurate information about the prevalence of sexual violence in a given area or region. Data on sexual violence comes from a variety of sources, including police records, clinical settings, nongovernmental organizations and survey research. However, it’s important to remember that this is only a small part of the overall picture as many cases of sexual violence go unreported.

It’s important for children to understand that sexual abuse and rape are not their fault. It is not their fault if they were in the wrong place at the wrong time or if they were drunk or on drugs. It’s not their fault if they weren’t dressed properly or if someone made them do something they didn’t want to do. It’s important for parents to keep an eye out for any warning signs that their child is experiencing sexual violence, including avoiding certain body parts, acting like a younger child, having new words for private body parts, wetting the bed or soiling themselves, and behaving in a suspicious way. If your child is showing any of these behaviors, you should seek help.

Victim Blaming

Victim blaming occurs when someone assumes that a victim of crime, domestic violence or sexual assault did something to cause their misfortune. This can take the form of skepticism, disbelief or implicit or explicit blame that the victim did not fight back enough or made the abuser angry. It also includes statements such as “maybe she shouldn’t have been out at night” or “she should have been more assertive”. Victim blaming is harmful because it can prevent victims from getting the help and support they need. It can also make survivors feel isolated and alone as they try to recover from their trauma.

It is important to note that not everyone who victim blames does so intentionally or maliciously. There are some people who do it as a result of their own prejudices or beliefs. For example, many people believe that men are more responsible for abusive behavior than women and this can lead to victim blaming of female victims. It is also common for people to do it because they do not have empathy and are unable to imagine what it is like to be in the victim’s position.

When a person does not have empathy, they are more likely to be critical of others and think that bad things happen to good people because the victim did something to deserve it. This type of thinking is known as internal attributions and leads to victim blaming. Other factors that lead to victim blaming include lack of education, cultural background and moral values.

Some studies show that victim blaming is related to sexism and that males are more likely to engage in victim blaming than females. This is believed to be due to a combination of both hostile sexism and benevolent sexism. Hostile sexism is the belief that men are more likely to commit violent crimes than women and benevolent sexism is the belief that it is more appropriate for men to commit rape than women because of their greater physical strength.

Victim blaming can have a detrimental effect on victims and survivors of sexual violence. It can make them feel scared and less willing to talk about their experiences with others, as they fear being judged or that they will not be believed. This can increase their depressive and anxious symptoms as well as those associated with PTSD. It also reinforces the perpetrator/abuser’s belief that the victim is at fault which can perpetuate their violence and abuse.

A recent study by Liane Young and Laura Niemi showed that people who have strong individual values are more likely to be sympathetic towards victims than those with stronger binding values. Binding values are those that promote fairness and preventing harm to individuals, whereas individual values are those that focus on one’s own choices and preferences. They also found that participants’ gender, the level of stereotyping at the end of the story and their belief in a just world had a significant impact on victim blaming. The effects of these variables were partially mediated by the degree of identifiability with the victim.

Togel HK: Strategi Cerdas untuk Mendongkrak Peluang Menang

Bagi sejumlah individu, togel HK telah jadi sebagai salah satu jenis permainan seru yang bisa membawa kesempatan dalam mendapatkan keberuntungan yang signifikan. Dengan kemajuan teknologi informasi, sekarang kita dapat merasakan pengalaman bermain togel dalam langsung via beragam platform online. Salah satunya yang paling populer adalah acara langsung HK, di mana pemain bisa melihat output undian dalam real-time. Hal ini membuat permainan semakin seru dan jelas, memberikan rasa percaya tambahan untuk para pesertanya.

Pada tulisan ini, kami akan membahas mengulas beberapa taktik jitu untuk menambah kesempatan berhasil dalam togel HK. Kita akan mengeksplorasi mengeksplorasi berbagai tipe permainan contohnya HK Lotto dan live draw HK, serta mengupas tuntas cara memaksimalkan penggunaan informasi dari sumber terpercaya yang dapat dipercaya seperti Hongkong Pools. Dengan memiliki memiliki ilmu yang tepat dan taktik yang baik, kesempatan untuk meraih keberhasilan pada togel HK akan menjadi lebih signifikan. Mari kita terus untuk menggali lebih dalam mengenai alam togel ini dan mencari cara yang efektif bermain. Live Draw HK Lotto

Memahami Togel HK dan Asal Informasi

Togel HK merupakan sebuah tipe permainan togel yang paling populer di negara Tanah Air, terutama berkaitan dengan hasil-hasil lotere dari Hong Kong. Seiring dengan yang terus berkembangnya inovasi, pemain kini dapat dengan cepat mendapatkan informasi terkait permainan ini melalui berbagai asal informasi, yang membuat hal itu lebih mudah untuk mengetahui hasil-hasil serta peluang. Salah satu metode utama dalam mendapatkan informasi terbaru ialah melalui live draw Hong Kong dengan langsung menampilkan hasil undian.

Asal data yang dapat dipercaya amat penting dalam permainan ini. Banyak situs web, seperti Hongkong Pools, yang menyediakan data akurat dan real-time mengenai hasil-hasil undian, seperti hk hari ini serta result hk lotto. Pemain yang secara teratur memeriksa informasi tersebut dapat meningkatkan pengetahuan mereka tentang struktur serta kecenderungan yang mungkin terjadi, jadi bisa mengembangkan strategi bermain yang lebih baik.

Selain itu, pengundian togel Hongkong dan pengundian langsung togel HK menawarkan transparansi kepada para pemain. Dengan mengikuti live draw, pemain dapat menyaksikan hasil pengundian, yang mana membantu memastikan supaya permainan dilaksanakan secara adil dan transparan. Dengan memanfaatkan data yang berasal dari sumber yang terpercaya akan membantu para pemain untuk membuat keputusan yang tepat pada bermain Togel HK.

Taktik Jitu untuk Meningkatkan Peluang Menang Menang

Meningkatkan kesempatan berhasil dalam permainan togel Hongkong butuh pendekatan yang tepat serta taktik yang matang. Salah satu langkah pertama penting adalah mengetahui pola dan statistik dari angka-angka yang lalu. Dengan mengikuti live draw Hongkong serta mencermati angka-angka yang sering muncul, pemain bisa mengurai peluang kombinasi yang dapat memberi keuntungan. Dengan pemantauan yang konsisten angka Hongkong hari ini, pemain dapat mendapatkan informasi tentang kecenderungan nomor yang sering tampil.

Di samping itu, keyakinan dalam menggunakan mengaplikasikan formula maupun metode yang telah membuktikan efektif bisa sangat membantu. Sejumlah partisipan yang mengandalkan menggunakan sistem tertentu seperti hk lotto 6d dalam menentukan angka pilihan. Memanfaatkan metode ini, dikombinasikan dari data dari live live togel HK, diharapkan bisa menambah kesempatan untuk meraih hadiah yang menarik dari hongkong pools. Cara ini membuat setiap keputusan menjadi data-driven daripada sekadar feeling atau bertaruh tanpa pertimbangan.

Yang terakhir, penting untuk memiliki manajemen keuangan yang baik ketika berjudi lotto. Tetapkan budget dan patuhi batasan yang telah telah ditentukan supaya tidak terjebak dalam permainan permainan. Memperhatikan angka live HK lotto dan memanfaatkan peluang apabila ada jackpot besar juga bisa menjadi strategi strategi yang efektif. Dengan disiplin dalam pengelolaan dalam pengelolaan uang serta penerapan strategi strategi yang cermat, peluang dalam meraih sukses dalam lotto HK dapat bertambah secara substansial.

Analisis Output dan Trend Togel HK

Analisis hasil togel HK adalah salah satu elemen krusial bagi para pemain itu ingin memperbesar kemungkinan berhasil. Dengan cara mengamati hasil-hasil sebelumnya, pemain dapat menemukan koridor dan gaya yang mungkin muncul di setiap pengundian. Misalnya, melalui mencermati angka-angka yang kerap muncul dalam live draw HK, pemain bisa lebih yakin dalam memilih nomor untuk dipasangkan pada kupon togel mereka. Ini dapat memberikan pandangan yang lebih jelas tentang angka-angka dengan kemungkinan lebih tinggi untuk muncul lagi.

Di samping hasil angka, gelagat dalam permainan togel HK pun bisa terpengaruh oleh elemen eksternal seperti perubahan dalam cara undian atau peningkatan jumlah partisipan. Meningkatnya antusiasme masyarakat pada pengundian langsung togel Hongkong, data hasil dari kolam hongkong menjadi lebih relevan. Pemain semua dengan konsisten mengikuti live draw togel HK dan mencatat hasil-hasilnya akan memiliki kekuatan dalam mengenali angka-angka yang mungkin muncul di kemudian, sehingga taktik mereka semakin lebih matang.

Kegiatan studi output dan gelagat togel HK tidak hanya sekadar mencari nomor keberuntungan, melainkan serta membangun kapasitas analisa pemain dalam menimbang sejumlah faktor yang bisa mempengaruhi permainan. Dengan informasi dari beragam sumber, seperti live hk lotto dan hasil lotto hk, para pemain dapat merancang strategi yang lebih efektif. Jangan lupa untuk terus menerus memperbarui data dan memelihara rekaman output terakhir dari kolam hongkong untuk menghasilkan tebakan yang lebih tepat.

What Does it Mean to Be a Woman?

Women are a remarkable group. We have the power to be compassionate and caring, while also being fiercely independent. We have the ability to be wise and witty, as well as foolish and naive. We are the heart of every family, and the backbone of the community. And yet, there are still many barriers that women must face in their lives, even after significant advances in the past few decades. These issues range from violence against women, to the lack of representation in leadership roles at work and in public life.

One of the biggest challenges for modern women is how to define “woman.” Some people struggle with this question, and find themselves drawn into arguments over what it means to be a woman. Others reject the label entirely and try to live in a way that’s more compatible with their gender identity, whether they transition medically or through other forms of personal change.

A few weeks ago, Matt Walsh wrote a post arguing that trans women are not truly women, because they don’t have a uterus and vagina. Walsh is a conservative columnist who often writes about culture and politics. But he’s missed the point: it is not about whether or not a uterus and vagina makes someone a woman, but how that person feels about herself and their own gender. The only thing that defines a woman is what she thinks and feels about herself, not whether or not they have ovaries or a vagina.

For most people, being a woman is something that they learn. They are taught about how to dress, how to speak, and the expectations that society places on them as females. These are all very important aspects of being a woman, but they don’t necessarily define it for everyone. For example, there are plenty of women who wear thongs and don’t have ovaries or vaginas, but who feel very deeply about their gender identities, and about how they are treated as females.

Female is a noun that refers to an adult female human being, and it’s used for scientific, statistical, and other objective purposes. It’s a neutral contrast to male, and it can be used in positive or negative contexts. It’s sometimes used negatively, in terms like a gossipy woman or a conniving girl.

In recent decades, women in most societies have gained access to careers that were once closed off to them. They are now entering professional schools in numbers nearly equal to men, and they’re pursuing leadership positions. But these gains have been tempered by persistent problems, from a lack of affordable childcare to workplace inequity and the ubiquity of sexism. It will take a long time before the representation of women in senior leadership at companies is even close to matching the proportion of women in the workforce. Until then, we must continue to fight for the rights and equality of all women.

Investing in Women’s Rights and Equality

Women are fundamental to all aspects of life, and a free and equal society is essential for everyone. Investing in women’s rights and equality is one of the most impactful things we can do to create a world where we all thrive.

The United States and many other countries have achieved dramatic social and legal changes that were once considered outlandish. But the people who have lived through these changes can hardly remember when they were not part of their daily lives. Even young people can hardly imagine a time when women’s equality wasn’t possible. These changes were brought about through a combination of laws, movements, and people who stood up for what they believed in.

But while progress has been made in a lot of places, the work still needs to be done. Across the globe, millions of women are denied their basic human rights – including freedom from violence and access to education and economic opportunity. The need to advance women’s rights and equality is as important today as it ever has been.

While there is still work to be done, the majority of Americans say that it is at least somewhat likely that women will have equal rights with men in their lifetimes. This is largely because of international agreements and conventions like the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) which set out an international bill of rights for women, and defines what obligations governments have to uphold those rights. Today, more than 180 states are signatories to CEDAW.

However, a significant share of people – especially Democratic and Republican women – say that the US hasn’t gone far enough in ensuring that women have equal rights with men. When asked to cite obstacles, a large majority of those who say this point to sexual harassment as an issue. Roughly two-thirds say that women not having the same legal rights as men, and different societal expectations are also major obstacles.

Other important issues include economic empowerment, sex discrimination, and violence against women. Increasing women’s economic opportunities, and giving them access to land and natural resources, is key to advancing their rights. It is critical to reduce sexual and gender-based violence, and this can be done by educating children without sexist biases, and combating harmful patriarchal traditions, such as child marriage and female genital mutilation.

In the past few years, countries have moved to make it easier for women to access education and jobs, and to take a leading role in their communities. They have also taken steps to reduce the pay gap and improve women’s economic status. But a constitutional guarantee of gender equality is needed to really ensure that women have the opportunity to thrive and live their fullest potential. This is why the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is such an important and necessary step towards a more equitable future for all. If passed, the ERA would help advocates and lawmakers to hold laws against sex discrimination up to constitutional standards of equality.

How to Reduce Gender Inequality

Gender inequality is one of the largest and most persistent forms of human inequality, and it affects the wellbeing of half the world’s population. It reflects gender bias and social norms that restrict women’s rights, opportunities, and welfare. Gender inequality has also significant economic costs and implications for society.

As a result, the need to address gender gaps is urgent. Some of these gaps reflect direct harmful actions against women (including violence and harassment, as well as restrictions on women’s behaviors, legal or otherwise), but others represent a misallocation of human capital that can only be addressed by policies focused on eliminating gender bias/social norms.

Moreover, there is growing empirical evidence that reducing gender inequality has important collateral benefits. For example, policies that reduce gender gaps in education and financial access help to lower income inequality overall. In addition, policies that increase women’s participation in the labor market have a positive impact on productivity and economic growth.

It is clear that reducing gender gaps is key to the global economy’s sustainable development, and that tackling these gaps requires action by all stakeholders. While there is some debate over the specific policy tools to tackle this problem, it is generally agreed that the best approach is a multidimensional approach that combines both addressing the root causes of these gaps as well as investing in women’s skills and capacity.

One of the challenges in addressing gender gaps is the lack of adequate data and reliable information on different aspects of the situation, especially at the country level. In recent years, a lot of progress has been made to improve the availability of gender disaggregated data. For instance, the IMF’s Financial Access Survey now reports on financial inclusion by gender, and the new World Development Indicators from the World Bank group include many statistics by gender. However, more work is needed in enhancing the quality of this information and its dissemination.

Policy actions that directly target the root causes of gender gaps would have the most powerful impact. These include educational programs, information campaigns, and legislative reforms that promote gender equality. These initiatives, although not a panacea, can help change the way people think about gender inequalities and thus influence behavior.

However, such interventions may not be immediately available for countries in low income situations, or may not be effective at changing gender norms in societies that are deeply entrenched in discrimination against women. Hence, it is important to incorporate gender analysis into the design of a wide range of policies and to measure their impact.

Gender inequality has many negative consequences for individuals, households, and the global economy, but it is also difficult to resolve. The good news is that it can be reduced through collective efforts by all stakeholders, including governments and the private sector. This will ultimately benefit women, their children, and the entire global economy by ensuring full human potential and economic growth. Gender inequality should be considered a non-zero-sum game: if there is less gender discrimination, there will also be more jobs and opportunity for men, as well as more investment in children’s future, and a stronger economy.

What Are the Effects of Sexual Violence?

Sexual violence is a serious crime and can have long-term impacts on the people affected. Impacts can include physical and emotional trauma, financial costs such as medical and legal bills, and difficulties relating to work and relationships. Survivors may also experience mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. It is important to remember that the effects of sexual violence can affect not just the survivor but their family, friends and community.

SGBV can be experienced in any part of the world, by people of all ages and from all backgrounds, cultures, faiths and sexualities. It can occur in all types of relationships, including intimate ones like those with partners, parents and children. It can happen to people with disabilities and can be perpetrated by someone they know or even someone they have a relationship with, such as an employer, colleague or neighbour.

People who have survived sexual violence often feel that they have to keep quiet about it and can struggle to talk about their experiences. They can experience shame, guilt, embarrassment and fear of being judged or told they are to blame for what happened to them. This can lead to them not seeking help or believing they can’t be helped. It is also common for survivors to avoid activities that were a regular part of their life before the assault or find it difficult to get involved in those things again. They might also find themselves feeling emotionally numb and dissociated from their bodies, sometimes seeking experiences that can provide them with feelings of sensation such as self-injury.

Many survivors have difficulty understanding what has happened to them. They might have a sense of denial and wonder why this has happened to them, particularly when the perpetrator is someone they knew or trusted. They may think they could have done something differently to stop it from happening, or that what happened wasn’t really a sexual assault or rape because they didn’t fight back or say no. They might also have a difficult time accepting that it has happened to them because they don’t feel like they can identify with the victim or perpetrator stereotypes of what is considered “normal”.

There are some evidence-based prevention approaches that have been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of sexual violence and preventing it from occurring. These are known as primary prevention strategies, and are aimed at addressing the risks that are linked to the perpetration of sexual violence before it occurs. This can include changing societal and environmental factors that increase the likelihood of sexual violence such as peer influences, small-scale social norms changes through bystander intervention or school poster campaigns. There is still a need to focus more on the development of community- and societal-level prevention approaches, in addition to individual- and relationship-based interventions, such as teaching children about respectful relationships. This includes creating safe spaces in schools, communities and workplaces where victims can receive support and not feel isolated and unsupported.