GOAL 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
- 5.1 End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
- 5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation
- 5.3 Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation
- 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
- 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
- 5.6 Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences
- 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
- 5.b Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women
- 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
SDG Progress and Industry Notes
Progress
The 2018 Report of the Secretary-General on Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, notes that “
In 2017, the HLPF Thematic Review of SDG 5 recommended:”While some forms of discrimination against women and girls are declining, gender inequality continues hold women back and deprives them of basic rights and opportunities. Empowering women requires addressing structural issues such as unfair social norms and attitudes, and progressive legal frameworks that put men and women at the same level.”
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“As governments and other stakeholders continue to implement SDG 5, concerted efforts will be needed to address existing gaps in implementation, particularly regarding structural barriers to gender equality, strengthening accountability mechanisms at the national level, increasing investment and financing for gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, and increasing data collection capacity.”
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“Gender equality is an enabler and accelerator for all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development offers an opportunity to achieve not only SDG 5 (gender equality), but to contribute to progress on all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
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Industry Notes
Gender equality is important for sustainable development. With an estimated more than 75% of garment workers worldwide being women, advancing SDG 5 is a priority for the Apparel and Textile Industry.
Research also shows that gender diversity benefits a manufacturing organization through improved ability to innovate, higher return on equity, and increased profitability. Women in manufacturing 2017 study.
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A number of industry programs listed under global and industry initiatives for this goal support gender equality throughout the value chain but conducting an organizational self-assessment is recommended as a starting point. .