Work and priorities
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for
women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide.
UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality, and works with governments
and civil society to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to ensure that the standards are effectively implemented
and truly benefit women and girls worldwide. It works globally to make the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals a reality for
women and girls and stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life, focusing on four strategic priorities:
•Women lead, participate in and benefit equally from governance systems
•Women have income security, decent work and economic autonomy
•All women and girls live a life free from all forms of violence
•Women and girls contribute to and have greater influence in building sustainable peace and resilience, and benefit equally from the
prevention of natural disasters and conflicts and humanitarian action
UN Women also coordinates and promotes the UN system’s work in advancing gender equality, and in all deliberations and
agreements linked to the 2030 Agenda. The entity works to position gender equality as fundamental to the Sustainable Development
Goals, and a more inclusive world.
Status of women
Gender equality is not only a basic human right, but its achievement has enormous socio-economic ramifications. Empowering
women fuels thriving economies, spurring productivity and growth. Yet gender inequalities remain deeply entrenched in every
society. Women lack access to decent work and face occupational segregation and gender wage gaps. They are too often denied
access to basic education and health care. Women in all parts of the world suffer violence and discrimination. They are
under-represented in political and economic decision-making processes.
Over many decades, the United Nations has made significant progress in advancing gender equality, including through landmark
agreements such as the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
Working for the empowerment and rights of women and girls globally, UN Women’s main roles are:
•To support inter-governmental bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, in their formulation of policies, global
standards and norms.
•To help Member States implement these standards, standing ready to provide suitable technical and financial support to those
countries that request it, and to forge effective partnerships with civil society.
•To lead and coordinate the UN system’s work on gender equality, as well as promote accountability, including through regular
monitoring of system-wide progress.
Historical perspective
For many years, the United Nations faced serious challenges in its efforts to promote gender equality globally, including inadequate
funding and no single recognized driver to direct UN activities on gender equality issues. In July 2010, the United Nations General
Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, to address such
challenges. In doing so, UN Member States took an historic step in accelerating the Organization’s goals on gender equality and the
empowerment of women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and
mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, which
focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment:
•Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW)
•International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW)
•Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI)
•United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/about-un-women
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable
world. There has been progress over the last decades, but the world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030.
Women and girls represent half of the world’s population and therefore also half of its potential. But gender inequality persists
everywhere and stagnates social progress.
On average, women in the labor market still earn 23 percent less than men globally and women spend about three times as many
hours in unpaid domestic and care work as men.
Sexual violence and exploitation, the unequal division of unpaid care and domestic work, and discrimination in public office, all
remain huge barriers. All these areas of inequality have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic: there has been a surge in
reports of sexual violence, women have taken on more care work due to school closures, and 70% of health and social workers
globally are women.
At the current rate, it will take an estimated 300 years to end child marriage, 286 years to close gaps in legal protection and remove
discriminatory laws, 140 years for women to be represented equally in positions of power and leadership in the workplace, and 47
years to achieve equal representation in national parliaments.
Political leadership, investments and comprehensive policy reforms are needed to dismantle systemic barriers to achieving Goal 5
Gender equality is a cross-cutting objective and must be a key focus of national policies, budgets and institutions.
How much progress have we made?
International commitments to advance gender equality have brought about improvements in some areas: child marriage and female
genital mutilation (FGM) have declined in recent years, and women’s representation in the political arena is higher than ever before.
But the promise of a world in which every woman and girl enjoys full gender equality, and where all legal, social and economic
barriers to their empowerment have been removed, remains unfulfilled. In fact, that goal is probably even more distant than before,
since women and girls are being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Are they any other gender-related challenges?
Yes. Worldwide, nearly half of married women lack decision-making power over their sexual and reproductive health and rights. 35
per cent of women between 15-49 years of age have experienced physical and/ or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner
sexual violence.1 in 3 girls aged 15-19 have experienced some form of female genital mutilation/cutting in the 30 countries in Africa
and the Middle East, where the harmful practice is most common with a high risk of prolonged bleeding, infection (including HIV),
childbirth complications, infertility and death.
This type of violence doesn’t just harm individual women and girls; it also undermines their overall quality of life and hinders their
active involvement in society.
Why should gender equality matter to me?
Regardless of where you live in, gender equality is a fundamental human right. Advancing gender equality is critical to all areas of a
healthy society, from reducing poverty to promoting the health, education, protection and the well-being of girls and boys.
What can we do?
If you are a girl, you can stay in school, help empower your female classmates to do the same and fight for your right to access
sexual and reproductive health services. If you are a woman, you can address unconscious biases and implicit associations that
form an unintended and often an invisible barrier to equal opportunity.
If you are a man or a boy, you can work alongside women and girls to achieve gender equality and embrace healthy, respectful
relationships.
You can fund education campaigns to curb cultural practices like female genital mutilation and change harmful laws that limit the
rights of women and girls and prevent them from achieving their full potential.
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/gender-equality/?need_sec_link=1&sec_link_scene=im
What Is Gender Equality?
Gender equality is imperative to human rights and peaceful societies and has been proven by myriad research to be important for all
communities to thrive. United Way of the National Capital Area believes in equity for all, regardless of race, gender, income and
ability. Below, we explain what gender equality is, examples of gender equality in action and how it benefits all people.
What Does Gender Equality Mean?
Gender equality definition is the state in which access to rights or opportunities is unaffected by gender. It’s not only women who are
affected by gender inequality—all genders are impacted, including men, trans and gender-diverse people. This in turn impacts
children and families, and people of all ages and backgrounds.
Equality in gender does not mean that women and men will have or need the exact same resources, but that women’s, men’s, trans
people’s and gender-diverse people’s rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not depend on their assigned gender at birth.
Examples of Gender Inequality
Gender inequality manifests in various aspects of life and can take many forms. Here are some examples across different domains:
Gender Pay Gap
Women are often paid less than men for the same work or work of equal value. According to the Pew Research Center, as of 2023
the gender pay gap has maintained itself with women making only 82% of what men make for nearly twenty years in the United
States.
Access to Education
In some parts of the world, girls may face barriers to accessing education, limiting their opportunities for personal and professional
growth. According to UNESCO, women still account for two-thirds of all adults unable to read. Globally, 122 million girls are not in
school. Additionally, certain industries and professions are dominated by one gender, limiting opportunities for the underrepresented
gender.
Domestic Violence
Women are disproportionately affected by domestic violence, with higher rates of physical and emotional abuse. 1 in 3 women have
faced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner.
Examples of Gender Equality
Now that we know what gender inequality looks like, let’s see some examples of gender equality in action. What does gender
equality look like in the real world? Below, we list and describe an example of gender equality in various scenarios and how it should
look in society.
Example 1: Equality at Home
On average, women around the world do three times as much unpaid work at home as men, including household work and caring
for children and family members, and many of these women also work full-time or part-time careers. Gender equality in this example
would look like splitting up at-home work as evenly as possible between all genders of a household, so that the burden of taking
care of the home and family is not solely on women.
Example 2: Equal Pay for Equal Work
The pay gap between men and women remains strong throughout the United States and around the world, especially for women
who are mothers or caretakers. Gender equality in the workforce means being paid the same salary for equal work, regardless of
gender. It also means that if a woman takes time off from work to take maternity leave, for example, she will not be punished when
she returns to work. She will still be considered for the same promotions, pay raises and career opportunities that she would have
been given had she not taken the necessary time off to care for her family.
Example 3: Zero Tolerance for Sexual Harassment and Gender-Based Bias
Whether in the workplace, within a religious group, at a community center or any other group setting, people of all genders deserve
to feel safe and be free of bullying and microaggressions, sexual harassment and prejudice based on gender. A society that
appreciates and upholds gender equality does not allow for offensive comments, harassment, etc., to be tolerated in any form.
Benefits of Gender Equality
Gender equality makes communities safer, healthier and happier. Countries with greater gender equality are more connected and
benefit immensely. Below, we list and describe specific societal benefits of gender equality.
Example 1: Economic Equality
When all genders receive equal job opportunities, society benefits. Studies show a diverse workplace is a more productive
workplace, and this diversity includes gender diversity. This success in the workplace translates into the economy, as well. When
equal job opportunity is given to all genders, poverty rates are reduced, communities are uplifted and a nation’s GDP is significantly
improved.
Example 2: Improved Education
Gender equality in education benefits every child within the school system. Girls who receive an education have a higher likelihood
to be healthier and more productive, earning higher incomes and building better futures for their families. This in turn contributes to a
stronger economy that benefits all genders and leads to better health within a community. According to UNICEF, when a girl
receives a secondary education, her lifetime earnings dramatically increase, the national growth rate rises, child marriage rates
decline, child mortality rates decline, maternal mortality rates fall and child stunting drops.
Example 3: Better Health
Studies show gender inequality has a negative impact on many health outcomes, including in regard to family planning, maternal
and child health, nutrition, pandemic disease and more. When health systems are transformed to provide equal access to health
care for all genders, studies show there are better health outcomes, including reduced depression and PTSD, reduced mortality
rates, better self-rated health and reduced alcohol consumption.
How to Promote Gender Equality in Your Community
There are many ways to promote gender equality in daily life, from splitting up household chores equally to fighting gender
stereotypes. There are also many groups and nonprofits promoting equity in their communities across the nation, including United
Way NCA.
Some actions you can take in your community to promote gender equality:
•Advocate for inclusive policies by encouraging local organizations and businesses.
•Support women-owned businesses to contribute to economic empowerment.
•Share information about gender equality through discussions, workshops, or social media.
•Volunteer time with organizations focusing on gender equality.
•Speak up against gender stereotypes and biases for a more open-minded community.
On a personal level, you can do the following to promote gender equality:
•Share household and caregiving responsibilities equally with family members.
•Stay informed about gender issues and continuously educate yourself.
•Use inclusive language that avoids reinforcing gender stereotypes.
•Encourage children to pursue interests irrespective of gender stereotypes.
•Speak up against instances of gender-based discrimination or harassment.
•Actively support and mentor individuals of all genders.
•Support political candidates and policies that promote gender equality.
•Listen to and amplify voices of individuals from different genders.
United Way NCA for Gender Equality
United Way NCA is focused on fostering equity for all community members, including those of all genders. We invite you to get
involved in promoting gender equality in our community by giving, advocating, volunteering and by joining our Affinity Group, Women
United, who plan and execute community projects benefiting girls, women and families throughout the National Capital Area.
https://unitedwaynca.org/blog/what-is-gender-equality/?need_sec_link=1&sec_link_scene=im
Gender equality, also known as sexual equality or equality of the sexes, 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, also regardless of gender.[1]
UNICEF (an agency of the United Nations) defines gender equality as "women and men, and girls and boys, enjoy the same rights,
resources, opportunities and protections. It does not require that girls and boys, or women and men, be the same, or that they be
treated exactly alike."[2][a]
As of 2017, gender equality is the fifth of seventeen sustainable development goals (SDG 5) of the United Nations; gender equality
has not incorporated the proposition of genders besides women and men, or gender identities outside of the gender binary. Gender
inequality is measured annually by the United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Reports.
Gender equality can refer to equal opportunities or formal equality based on gender or refer to equal representation or equality of
outcomes for gender, also called substantive equality.[3] Gender equality is the goal, while gender neutrality and gender equity are
practices and ways of thinking that help achieve the goal. Gender parity, which is used to measure gender balance in a given
situation, can aid in achieving substantive gender equality but is not the goal in and of itself. Gender equality is strongly tied to
women's rights, and often requires policy changes.
On a global scale, achieving gender equality also requires eliminating harmful practices against women and girls, including sex
trafficking, femicide, wartime sexual violence, gender wage gap,[4] and other oppression tactics. UNFPA stated that "despite many
international agreements affirming their human rights, women are still much more likely than men to be poor and illiterate. They have
less access to property ownership, credit, training, and employment. This partly stems from the archaic stereotypes of women being
labeled as child-bearers and homemakers, rather than the breadwinners of the family.[5] They are far less likely than men to be
politically active and far more likely to be victims of domestic violence."[6]
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_equality
By Dr. Leila Joudane
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Philippines Country Representative
For the past 3 years, I have lived in the Philippines and I have seen first-hand how incredible Filipino women are. We see many
Filipinas in top positions not just in government but also in the private sector and most especially in civil society. Women in the
Philippines experience many freedoms, at least when compared to their peers in other countries. With higher economic participation
and educational attainment of females, the Philippines even ranked 16th among 146 countries, in the 2023 World Economic Forum’s
(WEF) Global Gender Gap Index report (GGGR).
We take the opportunity this Women’s Month to celebrate the advancement of women’s rights in the Philippines and the rest of the
world -- thanks to the collective efforts of vibrant women’s movements, civil society, development partners and nations.
But while we enjoy such successes, the Philippines, alongside other countries, still has a long way to go towards achieving the
Sustainable Development Goals in 2030, including the goal for gender equality.
We at the United Nations Population Fund are especially concerned with the elimination of all forms of gender-based violence and
harmful practices against women and girls. While great strides have been made to address such issues, the 2022 Philippine
National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) shows that 18% of Filipino women who had a husband or intimate partner,
reported having experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence by their most recent partner. And of those who experienced
gender-based violence, 2 out of 5 did not seek help.
The same report showed that roughly 286,000 or 5.6% of Filipino girls aged 15 to 19 years old are currently married or in union. This
practice of child marriage or marrying under the age of 18 is the 5th most cited reason for youths aged 12 to 17 years old for not
attending school, according to the 2019 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey.
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) “Concluding Observations” on the
Philippines released in 2023 welcomed the enactment of laws protecting the rights of women such as the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse
Act. However, it expressed concern over “the high levels of violence and insecurity aggravated by natural disasters and the
coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which have had a negative impact on women’s human rights and the rule of law.” It
raised other concerns such as the lack of a comprehensive and publicly available disaggregated statistics, the high incidence and
underreporting of domestic violence, low prosecution and conviction rates of perpetrators, and the absence of a comprehensive
strategy to address discriminatory gender stereotypes.
We echo the CEDAW’s call for enforcement of legislation and policies, provision of quality survivor-centered essential services for all
women and girls in all contexts, and the scaling-up of evidence-based prevention strategies.
Following the passage of Republic Act no. 11596 or the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, UNFPA has worked with government
partners to develop the National Action Plan to End Child, Early and Forced Marriage. In BARMM, where we have seen a lot of child
marriages taking place, we are organizing and capaciting young people as youth change agents to lead mobilization efforts in their
community on the issue of child marriage. Similarly, we are partnering with the Philippine Commission on Women to develop a
multi-year National Action Plan to End Violence Against Women.
With UNFPA being the sexual and reproductive health agency of the UN, we also look at the progress that the International
Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) has afforded us. The ICPD, which will be marking its 30th anniversary this year,
was a ground-breaking global event held in Egypt in 1994. ICPD’s Programme of Action recognized that women's empowerment is
impossible if women and girls are not able to exercise the right to make informed decisions about their bodies and reproduction.
Among the SDG targets that we still need to work on for the Philippines is ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive
health and reproductive rights in accordance with the ICPD Programme of Action. We are hopeful that the country will soon pass
into law the “Adolescent Pregnancy Bill,” which guarantees access to reproductive health services for adolescents without parental
consent under specific circumstances. The bill, which was already approved by the House of Representatives and awaiting passage
in the Senate, will establish a National Action Plan encompassing various interventions to help reduce adolescent pregnancies in the
country.
It is important to realize that fulfilling sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is crucial for us to achieve gender equality.
SRHR prevents severe health consequences and other vulnerabilities that women face. But it’s not just about women's health. It's
about dismantling the power structures that perpetuate gender inequality. With comprehensive sexuality education, young people
will have the knowledge to protect their health, make informed decisions and challenge gender norms and stereotypes. By ensuring
women have control over their reproductive choices, we create a society where they can participate equally in all aspects of life.This
means, reducing adolescent pregnancies that hinder young people from pursuing education and their full potential. SRHR also
empowers women to space pregnancies to improve their health and well-being, and give them opportunities to participate in the
workforce.
An investment case funded by the Joint SDG Fund produced by UNFPA with the help of the Burnett Institute showed the
undeniable economic and social benefits of sustained financing for SRHR. It presents a compelling argument backed by data: for
every dollar invested in SRHR, the Philippines can reap $18 in return through healthcare savings and long-term socio-economic
gains.
Including women in the conversation and decision-making isn't just about achieving equality; it's about creating a more inclusive and
empowering environment for everyone. When we invest in women, especially those marginalized, we invest in a brighter future for
everyone.
Empowering women by fulfilling their sexual and reproductive health and rights isn't just a moral imperative; it’s the cornerstone of
building a more equal, healthier, wealthier, safer, and more peaceful nation for all. When we invest in women and girls, we all reap
the rewards.
https://philippines.unfpa.org/en/news/unlocking-gender-equality-philippines
