The achievement of gender equality is essential and connected with accomplishing each of the 17 goals of sustainable development, which were adopted by world leaders to end all forms of poverty, combat inequities, promote health and well-being, and so on.
Gender equality according to Wikipedia is the state of equal ease of access to resources and opportunities regardless of gender, including economic participation and decision-making; and the state of valuing different behaviors, aspirations, and needs equally, regardless of gender.
The Women, Business, and the Law 2022 report from the World Bank estimates that 2.4 billion women of working age do not have access to equitable economic opportunities and that 178 nations continue to erect legal obstacles that limit their ability to fully participate in economic life.
Although making nearly half of the world’s population, women and girls still face discrimination in every aspect of life. Due to the biased traditional and cultural expectation that women stay at home while men work outside the home, women are likely not to fully participate in the development of a Nation. The adage “Educate a girl, educate a nation” is a rallying cry that ought to be supported by everyone. If women have access to quality jobs and wages, poverty in all of its forms will vanish and society would improve.
Also, if women have complete reproductive rights and protection, including the end of female genital mutilation performed on girls and women, mother and child mortality will decrease. The promotion of life and well-being for everyone, which is one of the global goals, will indirectly undergo a considerable change as a result.
Over the years, CFHI has empowered over 1,800 women through a variety of services, including but not limited to interest-free microloans, start-up kits for tailoring, catering, hairstyling businesses and over 80 percent of our beneficiaries are doing well in their various endeavors thereby allowing them to contribute to the building of a healthier and economically viable communities. This empowerment is geared towards Gender Equality which is key for poverty alleviation.
Women make up half of the world’s population and women’s rights are a human right, any gender discrimination has a negative impact on all other global goals.
If given the proper resources, opportunities and support, women will succeed in all fields and lead autonomous, self-reliant lives that will advance society as a whole.
Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-based violence and gender bias.
#SpeakWednesday #SDGs #SDG5 #GenderEquality #genderbias #WomenRights #CFHI #empowerment #UNFPA #USAID #PEPFAR
