Gender equality is explicitly mentioned only in two of the eight MDGs, but in reality, it is an over-arching and crosscutting concern that can enhance performance on every other indicator of human development.
The goals of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in the MDGs can be seen as opportunities for mainstreaming women's concerns and perspectives in development, by identifying synergies amongst the MDGs, the Beijing Platform for Action, and other international and national commitments. Also, working towards social, political and economic empowerment of disadvantaged groups of women and men in a holistic manner is important for achieving the goals.
02-05-2012The World of Work Report 2012: Better Jobs for a Better Economy – published by the UN International Labour Organization (ILO) – says that around 50 million jobs are still missing compared to the situation that existed before the global economic crisis. more...
Image: Mine workers at Greenside Colliery, an Anglo American thermal coal mine in South Africa/ Photo credit: UN
09-03-2012On the International Women’s Day we take a close look at how women are leading the global fight against hunger despite overwhelming odds. more...
04-01-2012Global economies with greater representation of women in top positions have been found to perform better, says the report The Gender Dividend: A Business Case for Gender Equality by UN Women. more...
Image: Equality and empowerment are critical means to a broad end - development/ Photo credit: UN Women
Bangladeshi woman stands against dowry system A Bangladeshi bride has sent shockwaves through the country by disowning her husband within minutes of their wedding over his enforced dowry demand. There are thousands of dowry oppressed women in the country despite government efforts to wipe out the social menace.
