The document discusses gender equality and the progress, challenges, and ways forward. It begins by discussing the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948 which recognizes basic rights for all people. However, gender equality has only been translated into law in some countries. The document then discusses concepts like gender mainstreaming and the relationships between gender equality and other factors. It outlines some progress made through agreements and policies from 1995 onward but also realities like gaps in wages, representation, and violence against women. It concludes by calling for continued efforts to achieve true equality through addressing stereotypes and increasing support and data collection from stakeholders.

1. ENHANCE GENDER EQUALITY
Action By
UN Secretary General
(Developed by Rahul Sudarshan
for submission to IE)
Gender Equality:
Progress , Challenges
and Way Forward
1

2.  The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(UDHR)adopted by UN in 1948
 Recognizes basic rights and fundamental
freedoms for all human beings
 Every one of us is born free and equal in dignity
and rights
 Over the years, the UN commitment has been
translated into national law in only a few
countries. More needs to be achieved.
Gender Equality:
UN UDHR
2
Gender Equality-Progress , Challenges and Way Forward

3.  Gender mainstreaming is a globally accepted
strategy for promoting gender equality
 Refers to the equal rights, responsibilities and
opportunities of women/men and girls/boys
 Implies that the interests, needs and priorities
of both women and men are taken into
consideration
 It engages men as well as women
 Equality between women and men is seen as a
human rights issue
Gender Equality:
Concept
3
Gender Equality-Progress , Challenges and Way Forward

4. Gender Equality:
Relationships
4
Gender Equality-Progress , Challenges and Way Forward
Gender
Equality
Social
Poverty
exclusion
Ethnic
Discrimin
ation
Geograph
ical
exclusion
Cultural
Economic
Political

5. Gender Equality:
Progress
5
Gender Equality-Progress , Challenges and Way Forward
Beijing Declaration
(1995)
Peace Agreements
(1996)
National Women’s
Forum
(1997)
UN Millennium
Development Goals
(MDG)
(2000)
Social Development
Law
(2001)
National Policy for
the Advancement of
Women
(2001)
Institutional
Framework
-
MDG and National
Programs linked
with gender policy
and MDG.

6.  Women only 21.8 % of all parliamentarians
 Gender based violence 1 in 3 women
 Women wages are 70-90% of men’s
 Only 5% of fortune 1000 companies have female
CEOs
 5,000 victims of honor killings each year
 More than 125 million women alive today have
undergone female genital mutilation in 29
countries
Gender Equality:
Reality
6
Gender Equality-Progress , Challenges and Way Forward

7.  Women appointed to Indian company boards to
comply with the provisions of the new companies
act for gender equality
 Progress on gender equality, and women's roles in
Kyrgyzstan and Chile. UN women hosts comic
competition focused on gender equality
 Abortion is ‘the no. 1 priority’ for gender equality
say feminists in Quebec/Canada
 UN’s CSW confirmed their commitment to achieve
gender equality by 2030
Gender Equality:
News Updates-1 May 2o15
7
Gender Equality-Progress , Challenges and Way Forward

8. Φ Enhance effectiveness and efficiency in the UN
system for empowerment of women
Φ Utilize results-based management and collect
good/reliable data
Φ Ensure a gender perspective in all organizations -
Govt/Industry/Non-profit
Φ Develop institutional mechanisms to forge
stronger partnerships with stakeholders
Φ Increase financial resources to achieve gender
equality goals
Gender Equality:
Action by SG/UN
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Gender Equality-Progress , Challenges and Way Forward

9. Despite solid evidence demonstrating the
centrality of women’s empowerment, gender
equality remains an unfulfilled promise
True equality will be achieved only when we all
fight the stereotypes that hold us back
The march toward true equality continues
Each individual success can make success a little
easier for the next. We can do this – for ourselves,
for one another, for our daughters and for our
sons.
Gender Equality:
Conclusion
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Gender Equality-Progress , Challenges and Way Forward

10. THANK YOU
Gender Equality:
10
Gender Equality-Progress , Challenges and Way Forward