Report on Gender Equality and Sustainable Development Goals

Current Status of SDG 5: Gender Equality

A recent assessment by UN Women and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) indicates a critical failure to meet gender equality targets, directly impacting the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2025 Gender Snapshot report highlights that no gender equality indicators are currently on track.

Socio-Economic Barriers and SDG Alignment

Significant obstacles prevent the realization of several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

• Poverty (SDG 1): An estimated 10 per cent of women live in extreme poverty. Projections suggest that without intervention, 351 million women and girls could remain in this state by 2030.
• Economic Exclusion (SDG 8 & SDG 10): 708 million women are excluded from the labor market due to unpaid care work. Women who are employed are often relegated to lower-paid jobs and are denied access to land ownership, financial services, and decent work, undermining economic growth and increasing inequalities.

Violence, Conflict, and Institutional Failures (SDG 5 & SDG 16)

The persistence of violence and conflict disproportionately affects women, hindering progress on SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

• Gender-Based Violence: One in three women is expected to experience physical or sexual violence in her lifetime, a direct violation of human rights and a barrier to achieving gender equality.
• Women in Conflict Zones: 676 million women reside within 50 kilometers of a conflict zone, the highest number recorded since the 1990s. This situation jeopardizes their safety and access to essential services, undermining efforts for peace and justice.

Historical Context and Legislative Progress

The 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing established a foundational framework for advancing gender equality. The resulting Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action identified key areas for progress, aligning with the future SDGs.

1. Legal Frameworks: Since 1995, there has been a significant increase in legal protections. 1,583 laws addressing gender-based violence have been enacted across 193 countries, compared to just 12 countries in 1995.
2. Economic Empowerment: Laws prohibiting gender discrimination in the workplace have increased, contributing to women’s economic empowerment (SDG 8).
3. Education (SDG 4): Gender gaps in education have been closing at all levels.
4. Peace and Security (SDG 16): The number of national action plans on women, peace, and security has grown from 19 in 2010 to 112 worldwide.

Investment and Political Will for SDG Achievement

Achieving gender equality requires significant investment and political commitment, which directly supports SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

• Economic Impact of Investment: UN Women estimates that immediate government action could reduce extreme poverty among women from 9.2 per cent to 2.7 per cent by 2050, adding $342 trillion to the global economy.
• Funding Disparities: Despite the potential returns, funding for gender equality initiatives is being cut. Sarah Hendriks of UN Women highlighted the disparity, noting that the world spends $2.7 trillion annually on weapons but falls short of the $320 billion needed to achieve gender equality. This prioritization undermines progress across all SDGs.

Leadership and Representation Gaps (SDG 5 & SDG 16)

The exclusion of women from positions of power and decision-making remains a critical barrier to achieving inclusive and effective governance as outlined in SDG 5 and SDG 16.

• Women occupy only 27 per cent of parliamentary seats and 30 per cent of leadership positions globally.
• 113 countries have never had a woman as Head of State.
• At the current rate of progress, achieving gender parity in leadership positions will take another century, delaying the full implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article primarily addresses issues related to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a central focus on gender equality. The following SDGs are directly connected to the content:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality – This is the core theme of the article. It explicitly states that “none of the gender equality targets are on track” and discusses various dimensions of gender inequality, including violence against women, economic exclusion, unpaid care work, and lack of representation in leadership.
• SDG 1: No Poverty – The article directly links gender inequality to poverty, highlighting that “10 per cent of women live in extreme poverty” and that this number could reach 351 million by 2030 if current trends continue.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The economic disempowerment of women is a key issue. The text mentions that “708 million women are excluded from the labour market by unpaid care work,” are “pushed into lower paid jobs,” and are “excluded from land ownership, financial services, and decent jobs.”
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – The article discusses violence against women, stating that “one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence.” It also touches upon the theme of women in conflict zones, noting that “676 million live within 50 kilometers of a conflict zone,” and references the creation of “112 national action plans on women, peace, and security.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific issues discussed, the following SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 1.1: Eradicate extreme poverty for all people. The article’s focus on the “10 per cent of women [who] live in extreme poverty” directly relates to this target.
2. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls. This is addressed by the statistic that “one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence during her lifetime” and the mention of new laws enacted to address gender-based violence.
3. Target 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work. The article points to this target by stating that “708 million women are excluded from the labour market by unpaid care work.”
4. Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in political, economic and public life. This is highlighted by the data showing that women “occupy barely 27 per cent of parliamentary seats and 30 per cent of leadership positions” and that “113 countries have never had a woman Head of State.”
5. Target 5.a: Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, including access to ownership and control over land and financial services. The article mentions that women are “excluded from land ownership, financial services, and decent jobs.”
6. Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, and equal pay for work of equal value. This is implied when the article discusses how women are “pushed into lower paid jobs” and denied “decent jobs.”
7. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The persistence of violence against women, as mentioned in the article, connects directly to this target of reducing violence in society.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Indicator for Target 1.1: The proportion of women living in extreme poverty, which the article states is currently “10 per cent.”
• Indicator for Target 5.2: The prevalence of physical or sexual violence experienced by women, cited as “one in three women…during her lifetime.” An indicator of policy response is also mentioned: “1,583 laws addressing gender-based violence have been enacted in 193 countries.”
• Indicator for Target 5.4: The number of women outside the labor force due to unpaid care work, which the article quantifies as “708 million women.”
• Indicator for Target 5.5: The proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments (“barely 27 per cent”) and the proportion of women in leadership positions (“30 per cent”). Another indicator is the number of countries that have never had a female Head of State (“113 countries”).
• Indicator for SDG 16: The number of people living near conflict zones (“676 million live within 50 kilometers of a conflict zone”) and the number of national action plans on women, peace, and security (“112 national action plans”).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.un.org