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EQUALITY

it is better to know the equality and empowerment in every aspects and every person

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Annastacia Venchy
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29 views3 pages

EQUALITY

it is better to know the equality and empowerment in every aspects and every person

Uploaded by

Annastacia Venchy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a

peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.

There has been progress over the last decades: More girls are going to school, fewer girls
are forced into early marriage, more women are serving in parliament and positions of
leadership, and laws are being reformed to advance gender equality.

Despite these gains, many challenges remain: discriminatory laws and social norms
remain pervasive, women continue to be underrepresented at all levels of political
leadership, and 1 in 5 women and girls between the ages of 15 and 49 report experiencing
physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner within a 12-month period.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could reverse the limited progress that has been
made on gender equality and women’s rights. The coronavirus outbreak exacerbates
existing inequalities for women and girls across every sphere – from health and the
economy, to security and social protection.

Women play a disproportionate role in responding to the virus, including as frontline


healthcare workers and carers at home. Women’s unpaid care work has increased
significantly as a result of school closures and the increased needs of older people.
Women are also harder hit by the economic impacts of COVID-19, as they
disproportionately work in insecure labour markets. Nearly 60 per cent of women work in
the informal economy, which puts them at greater risk of falling into poverty.

The pandemic has also led to a steep increase in violence against women and girls. With
lockdown measures in place, many women are trapped at home with their abusers,
struggling to access services that are suffering from cuts and restrictions. Emerging data
shows that, since the outbreak of the pandemic, violence against women and girls – and
particularly domestic violence – has intensified.

Women's health and safety is another important area. HIV/AIDS is becoming an


increasingly impactful issue for women. (Source) This can be related to women having
fewer opportunities for health education, unequal power in sexual partnership, or as a
result of gender-based violence. Maternal health is also an issue of specific concern. In
many countries, women have limited access to prenatal and infant care, and are more
likely to experience complications during pregnancy and childbirth. This is a critical
concern in countries where girls marry and have children before they are ready; often
well before the age of 18. (Source) Quality maternal health care can provide an important
entry point for information and services that empower mothers as informed decision-
makers concerning their own health and the health of their children.

A final area of focus in attaining gender equality is women's economic and political
empowerment. Though women comprise more than 50% of the world's population, they
only own 1% of the world's wealth. (Source) Throughout the world, women and girls
perform long hours of unpaid domestic work. In some places, women still lack rights to
own land or to inherit property, obtain access to credit, earn income, or to move up in
their workplace, free from job discrimination. (Source) At all levels, including at home
and in the public arena, women are widely underrepresented as decision-makers. In
legislatures around the world, women are outnumbered 4 to 1, yet women's political
participation is crucial for achieving gender equality and genuine democracy. (Source)

The World Economic Forum recently ranked the United States as 19th in the world on its
gender gap index. (Source) With women comprising less than one fifth of elected
members of Congress, the report identifies political empowerment as the greatest gender
equity issue for the United States. The U.S. ranked higher in economic empowerment,
but women's earning power remains approximately 20% lower than men's. (Source)
Women in the United States have a very high ranking of educational attainment, though,
with high levels of literacy and enrollment in primary, secondary, and university
education. At present, there are more U.S. women attending college than men. (Source)

Globally, no country has fully attained gender equality.(Source) Scandinavian countries


like Iceland, Norway, Finland, and Sweden lead the world in their progress toward
closing the gender gap.(Source) In these countries, there is relatively equitable
distribution of available income, resources, and opportunities for men and women. The
greatest gender gaps are identified primarily in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.
However, a number of countries in these regions, including Lesotho, South Africa, and
Sri Lanka outrank the United States in gender equality.(Source)

Around the world, Peace Corps Volunteers are working with communities to address
gender equality and empower women and girls. In 1974, Congress signed the Percy
Amendment requiring Peace Corps Volunteers to actively integrate women into the
economic, political, and social development of their countries. (Source) Many Peace
Corps Volunteers implement the Camp GLOW program, or Girls Leading Our World, to
help girls develop self-esteem and leadership skills. Recognizing that men and boys must
be equal partners in achieving gender equality, Volunteers also teach leadership and life
skills to boys through Teaching Our Boys Excellence (TOBE) camps. Peace Corps
Volunteers promote gender equality and women's empowerment through health
education, business development, and by raising awareness of women's rights and
contributions to their communities. Learn more about how Peace Corps Volunteers are
working with communities by visiting the Paul D. Coverdell World Wise Schools
resources.

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