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.
18-11-2009By reviving an old farm practice of pata, women in this western Indian district are ensuring food security in times of drought by growing vegetables, fruits, sorghum and pigeon peas. Traditionally, pata signifies a woman’s space in agriculture, which had lost its significance after Green Revolution and commercialisation.
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Image: Lalitabai plucks long beans in her pata for the evening meal/ Aparna Pallavi/ DTE
17-11-2009A five-member civil society delegation met India’s minister of environment and forests to present a women’s charter on climate justice. They conveyed their concerns to press the need for a people’s agenda to protect the interests of the masses both at the domestic and international fronts.
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18-11-2009Women's political participation is a fundamental prerequisite for gender equality and genuine democracy, says Ines Alberdi, executive director, UNIFEM in an interview with Pamela Philipose. She avers that a lot has been achieved but there is still a great deal more to do.
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20-11-2009UNFPA’s report The State of World Population 2009 focuses on the disproportionate impact of global warming on women, marginalised poor and the coastal populations. It argues that the international community needs to take into account their needs, rights and potential while formulating policies, programmes and treaties on climate change.
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Women crusaders 'on the prowl' for timber mafia A group of tribal women in eastern India has helped restore the neighbourhood forests. Carrying traditional weapons and humming folk warnings, these women go on routine patrolling to track timber mafia engaged in illegal felling of trees.
