Women’s Rights and the Sustainable Development Goals

Women are half the world’s population and hold vast potential to build peaceful, prosperous societies. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, it’s essential for economic and social progress.

But despite the progress that’s been made, women continue to face obstacles. Harmful patriarchal traditions such as child marriage and female genital mutilation rob girls of their future and lead to high rates of maternal and infant mortality. A lack of access to reproductive health services and information leaves women vulnerable to unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and unsafe abortions. Women are often paid less than men for doing the same work and face discrimination and violence at home, in their communities and on the job. And when they try to speak up for their rights, they are met with smear campaigns and intimidation.

Yet women are claiming space and taking on leadership roles not only in feminist organizations, but also across movements for justice, making the connections between issues like climate justice, workers’ rights and racial equality. They are challenging regressive policies, laws and attitudes. And they are bringing energy and innovative strategies to the fight for women’s rights. But their work is dangerous and many activists are targeted with physical and online attacks, and are denied the basic funding they need to advance women’s rights.

As a result of the global women’s movement, today women can vote in most countries, sit on parliaments and run for political office. But, despite gains in the political arena, women still struggle to be fully represented, especially at the highest levels of government. Women are also at greater risk of violence in conflict zones and are often subject to so-called honour killings, rape, and sexual assault, both during and after armed conflicts.

The new Sustainable Development Goals include a target on gender equality, which promises to embed advances in women’s rights into the fabric of society. It includes specific targets on ending gender-based violence, eliminating early and forced marriage, tackling sex-based discrimination, empowering girls and young women, and promoting reproductive health.

But to reach that goal, governments need to change their policies and laws. They need to prioritize girls’ education and give women equal pay for work of equal value. They need to make it easier for women and girls to leave abusive relationships and start over, and they need to allow women to choose when, where and how to have children. Investing in girls’ education and giving women more opportunities to pursue careers leads to better health, safer homes and communities, and a more diversified economy. It also lifts poverty for everyone.