Report on Legal Settlement Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

Case Summary and Financial Settlement

A significant legal settlement of $45 million has been secured for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in a case concerning pregnancy discrimination. The action, led by Harini Srinivasan of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, represents a major victory in upholding workplace rights and directly contributes to the advancement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The outcome of this litigation provides a tangible example of progress toward key global targets for equality, justice, and economic stability. The primary SDGs impacted are detailed below.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

This settlement is a direct advancement of SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

• Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. The legal challenge successfully combated discriminatory workplace policies and practices targeted at pregnant officers.
• Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making. By removing discriminatory barriers related to pregnancy, the settlement helps ensure that women are not forced out of their careers or denied opportunities for advancement, promoting their continued participation in the workforce.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The case strongly supports the principles of SDG 8, which promotes inclusive economic growth and decent work for all.

• Target 8.5: Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value. The action protects the employment of pregnant workers, ensuring they are not unfairly penalized or removed from their positions, thereby upholding the standard of decent work.
• Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers. The settlement reinforces the legal framework protecting the rights of a vulnerable segment of the workforce and holds an employer accountable for providing a non-discriminatory and secure working environment.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

By addressing a specific form of systemic discrimination, the settlement contributes to SDG 10, which calls for reducing inequality within and among countries.

1. The legal victory empowers a group facing inequality based on gender and pregnancy status.
2. It challenges and rectifies institutional policies that perpetuate economic and social disparities against women in the workplace.
3. The financial compensation serves to mitigate the economic damages suffered by the officers due to discriminatory practices.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The successful litigation is an embodiment of SDG 16, which focuses on providing access to justice for all and building effective, accountable institutions.

• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law… and ensure equal access to justice for all. The case demonstrates the effectiveness of the legal system in providing a remedy for grievances and ensuring that justice is accessible to those whose rights have been violated.
• Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. Holding a federal agency accountable for its discriminatory employment practices encourages the development of more transparent, fair, and inclusive institutional policies, thereby strengthening the institution itself.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  • The article’s central theme is a legal settlement for “pregnancy discrimination.” This is a direct violation of gender equality, which aims to end all forms of discrimination against women. The case highlights the fight for equal rights and treatment for women in the workplace.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  • The issue of workplace discrimination against pregnant officers directly relates to ensuring decent work for all. SDG 8 promotes full and productive employment and safe working environments. The legal action taken by the officers is an effort to protect their labor rights and ensure a secure work environment, free from discrimination.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  • Discrimination based on pregnancy is a form of inequality that prevents women from having equal opportunities in their careers. The lawsuit mentioned in the article is an action to reduce such inequalities of outcome and ensure equal opportunity, as promoted by SDG 10.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  • The article describes a legal case that resulted in a “$45 million settlement.” This demonstrates the use of the justice system to address grievances and uphold rights. It points to the importance of strong institutions and access to justice for all to resolve conflicts and enforce non-discriminatory laws.

Specific Targets Identified

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.1: “End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.” The lawsuit directly addresses pregnancy discrimination, a specific form of discrimination against women.
   • Target 5.5: “Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.” By challenging discriminatory practices, the officers are fighting for equal opportunities in their professional lives.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.” The case against pregnancy discrimination supports the principle of decent work and equal opportunity for women.
   • Target 8.8: “Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers…” The legal action taken by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers is a clear example of enforcing and protecting labor rights.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.3: “Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices…” The lawsuit challenges a discriminatory practice against pregnant officers, aiming to ensure equal opportunity.

4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.3: “Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.” The fact that the officers could bring a claim and secure a settlement demonstrates access to the justice system to remedy a rights violation.

Implied Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. For Target 5.1 (End discrimination against women)

   • Indicator: The existence and enforcement of legal frameworks that promote and enforce non-discrimination on the basis of sex. The article implies this indicator by describing a successful lawsuit against pregnancy discrimination, which would rely on such legal frameworks.

2. For Target 10.3 (Ensure equal opportunity)

   • Indicator: The number of reported cases of discrimination and the outcomes of those cases. The article provides a specific data point: a successful lawsuit resulting in a “$45 million settlement,” which serves as an indicator of progress in holding institutions accountable for discriminatory practices.

3. For Target 16.3 (Ensure equal access to justice)

   • Indicator: The number of legal claims filed by individuals or groups for rights violations and the proportion of those claims that are successfully resolved. The settlement mentioned is a tangible outcome that can be counted as a successful resolution, indicating that the justice system is accessible and effective for the victims.

Summary of Findings

Source: law360.com