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Achievement of the MDGs Not On Track

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ACHIEVEMENT OF THE MDGS NOT ON TRACK

MDGs not on track
Half way to 2015 we are far from achieving the Millennium Development Goals. If we don’ t get on track, we will fail.

Gender Equality and women’s empowerment:

Are key development goals in their own right (MDG3)
Are important means by which to achieve all the MDGs
Pays off, and benefits the girl child, women, families and society in general

Gender inequality:

Is unjust and affects 50 per cent of the world’s population
Is costly to the individual girl, woman, her family and society

Fullfilling all the eight Millennium Development Goals is a giant task. The goals are interdependent and mutually supportive. Progress or lack of progress on one MDG affects the achievement of the others.
MDG3 - gender equality and women's empowerment - is well known to multiply development efforts, and thus important to achieving all the MDGs.

From improving health and fighting disease, to reducing poverty. From mitigating hunger, to expanding education. From lowering child mortality, to increasing access to safe water, to ensuring environmental sustainability.

MDG 3 embodies the right to equality and equal access to resources and influence. Women’s empowerment in all areas is crucial to achieving gender equality. Women's economic empowerment is a key factor in the mix.

Gender Empowerment will accelerate progress on the other MDGs
Gender equality and women’s empowerment promote:

- Poverty reduction and stimulate economic growth (MDG 1)

directly through women’s greater labor force participation, productivity, and earnings
indirectly through beneficial effects on child well-being.

- Universal primary education (MDG 2)

the greater the mother’s control over resources in the household, the more resources households allocate to children’s health, nutrition and education.

- Reduced under-five mortality (MDG 4)

The number of years of education of mothers has a direct positive impact on reducing under five mortality. Children also benefit from better maternal education through improved hygiene practices, better nutrition, lower fertility rates, and therefore higher per child expenditures.

- Improved maternal health (MDG 5)

More education, greater control over household resources, control over own fertility and spacing of children, and better nutrition improve expectant mothers’ chances for healthy pregnancies and normal births.

- Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other infectious diseases (MDG 6)

Reduced likelihood of contracting HIV and other diseases

- Ensure environmental sustainability (MDG 7)

Improved community reaction during natural disasters when women play a leadership role in early warning systems and reconstruction. And their knowledge is tapped in creating solutions.

Something Extra Needs To Be Done:

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Read more:

Gender equality:
Measure of the rights, resources, and voice enjoyed by women relative to those enjoyed by men. Global Monitoring Report 2007, ch.3.

Empowerment of women:
Whether women have the ability to exercise options, choice, control and power, to make decisions and effect outcomes that are important to them and their families. Global Monitoring Report 2007, ch.3.

Global Monitoring Report 2007, World Bank >

Dr. Mariama Williams: “Gender and Trade: Impacts and implications for financial resources for gender equality” , IGTN-Caribbean, June 24, 2007 >

Dr. Mariama Williams: “Trade SMART Investing in Women”. Speaking notes

HOW CHILDREN’S BOOKS CAN EMPOWER WOMEN

International Gender and Trade Network >

Global Gender and Climate Alliance (GGCA), initiated by UNDP, UNEP, WEDO and IUCN >

WEDO, Network Women’s Environment and Development Organization >

Do you know that...

· Agricultural productivity can increase by up to 20 percent if women’s access to resources such as land, seed and fertiliser are equal to men’s (sub-Saharan Africa).

Edited June 4, 2008