Based on lessons learnt from MDGs as well as based on evidence gathered through work of the UN system, the OECD, and the World Bank, achieving progress towards various development targets very much depends on enhancements of women’s empowerment and gender equality. Gender inequalities are often reinforced by combination of inequalities in income, unequal access to paid work, lack of property and ownership rights, difficult access to basic services, on ethnicity or disability. They are detrimental to women and men, girls and boys, families, communities and for society as a whole. The obligation to address and tackle (gender) inequalities is born out of international human rights standards against which policies, including macro-economic policies should be held accountable.
A post 2015 development agenda should therefore pay attention not only to inequalities (including those gender based), but make their causes explicit, aiming at formulating realistic goals and targets (in various areas, including in economic, social and political spheres) which will lead to reduction of inequalities and more sustainable progress in inclusion.
Read more at UN Turkey
