Empowering women and girls to promote sustainable development

Introduction Gender equality is achieved when women and men enjoy the same rights and opportunities in the society, and when the different behaviours, desires and needs of women and men are equally valued and favoured. Unfortunately, not all countries in the world have attained gender equality. For instance, in Afghanistan. But in Venezuela, gender equality is achieved and in Taiwan, measures to promote gender equality are being taken.

Venezuela Before Now No female ministers in the 1960s. Women were exposed to violence. Women head more than 1/3 of the government ministries. Domestic violence remains a serious problem. Girls and boys have almost the same enrolment rate in schools. Female unemployment rate has dropped significantly.

Venezuela

Taiwan Violence against women (rape and domestic violence) remained a serious problem. Judicial authorities remained dismissive of complaints of sexual harassment in the workplace. Child abuse continued to be a widespread problem. Sexual abuse was estimated to be approximately 20,000 annually.

Afghanistan Taliban is a Muslim fundamentalist group in Afghanistan and is a major threat to the government. It has brought violence and oppression. The Taliban imposed their own interpretation of Sharia Law (Islamic law) which affected unfairly women and girls.

Afghanistan

Solutions The government contributes to improve women's and girls' access to justice and peace. UN Special Mission to Afghanistan (UNSMA) continued to address issues related to the discrimination against women and girls. They made numerous efforts to negotiate the withdrawal of various discriminatory decrees, including those banning women's employment. The United Nations has urged the Afghan parties to bring women into every stage of the political process; and the UN is recruiting Afghan women as quickly as it can help to provide humanitarian assistance.

Conclusion Finally, a more equal society will serve not only women but all of us as it will allow us to live as full human beings and beyond restrictive gender roles. It is possible for all the countries to make equality a reality but both men and women must fight for it! All of us have the power to change the world.