Gender Equality - Blackbaud Institute

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Today, gender inequality can be found in every society's framework. The disparities women continue to face include obstacles their male counterparts never have to experience. Women suffer in many ways from this inequality, and this sets them up for disadvantages in every stage of their lives.

Protection is needed from gender-based violence present in its many forms— domestic violence, sexual abuse, human trafficking, the practice of child marriage, female genital mutilation, and any act of violence against women. Women are also faced with overcoming occupational segregation and gender wage gaps. They are inordinately underrepresented in political and decision-making spaces and, in many cases, they lack access to basic education. Combatting this inequity is an undertaking that will require efforts on multiple fronts, starting with counteracting the discrimination that’s embedded in each of our societies.

Gender equality would mean that women and girls can reach their full potential. It would mean providing them with the opportunities and empowerment men and boys enjoy. Reducing gender inequality strengthens communities and economies and develops a world that works as one cohesive force. It’s not possible to advance as human beings if it means leaving half the world's population behind.

Targets & Indicators

When the UN General Assembly introduced the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, they listed the targets that needed to meet for each goal. These targets break down what needs to be achieved to consider the goal completed. The UN Statistical Commission created the IAEG (International Agency and Expert Group) in 2017, which was tasked with creating the “indicators” for each target. These indicators were created to put measures in place to track the process being made on each target.

Targets and indicators were developed by the UN as a working blueprint for nations, organizations, and people to use when implementing SDGs in their everyday actions. Looking to the targets for the respected goal is the best way to execute the use of them in your work.

5.1

End all forms of discrimination against women and girls everywhere.

Indicators

5.1.1 Whether Legal Frameworks Are in Place to Promote, Enforce, and Monitor Equality and Non‑Discrimination on the Basis of Sex

5.2

Eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking, sexual, and other types of exploitation.

Indicators

5.2.1 Proportion of Ever-Partnered Women and Girls Aged 15 Years and Older Subjected to Physical, Sexual, or Psychological Violence by a Current or Former Intimate Partner in the Previous 12 Months (by Form of Violence and by Age)
5.2.2 Proportion of Women and Girls Aged 15 Years and Older Subjected to Sexual Violence by Persons Other Than an Intimate Partner in the Previous 12 Months (by Age and Place of Occurrence)

5.3

Eliminate all harmful practices, such as forced/child marriage and female genital mutilation.

Indicators

5.3.1 Proportion of Women Aged 20-24 Years Who Were Married or in a Union Before Age 15 and Before Age 18
5.3.2 Proportion of Girls and Women Aged 15-49 Years Who Have Undergone Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting by Age

5.4

Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate.

Indicators

5.4.1 Proportion of Time Spent on Unpaid Domestic and Care Work, by Sex, Age, and Location

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.

Indicators

5.5.1 Proportion of Seats Held by Women in National Parliaments and Local Governments
5.5.2 Proportion of Women in Managerial Positions

5.6

Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programs of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.

Indicators

5.6.1 Proportion of Women Aged 15-49 Years Who Make Their Own Informed Decisions Regarding Sexual Relations, Contraceptive Use, and Reproductive Healthcare
5.6.2 Number of Countries with Laws and Regulations That Guarantee Women Aged 15-49 Years Access to Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, Information, and Education

5.a

Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance, and natural resources, in accordance with national laws.

Indicators

5.a.1 Proportion of Total Agricultural Population with Ownership or Secure Rights Over Agricultural Land, by Sex; and Share of Women Among Owners or Rights-Bearers of Agricultural Land, by Type of Tenure
5.a.2 Proportion of Countries Where the Legal Framework (Including Customary Law) Guarantees Women’s Equal Rights to Land Ownership and/or Control

5.b

Enhance the use of enabling technology, especially information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.

Indicators

5.b.1 Proportion of Individuals Who Own a Mobile Telephone by Sex

5.c

Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.