Regardless of where you live, gender equality is a fundamental human right. Advancing gender equality is critical to all areas of a healthy society, from reducing poverty to promoting the health, education, protection, and well-being of men and women.
Gender equality was made part of international human rights law by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which the UN General Assembly adopted on December 10, 1948. The UN-selected gender equality as a part of the Millennium Development Goals and gender equality at large scale is considered one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030. The SDGs provide a complete plan directing actions to tackle gender differences in different sectors, such as education, healthcare, economic involvement, and political representation.
In 2000, the UNSC recognized a change in welfare among civilians, especially women. They created Resolution 1325 to address this issue. The resolution acknowledges that women and girls suffer more in wars and conflicts and that women can help build peace and security in the nation.
The UN established UN Women in 2010 to advance gender equality globally. UN Women was created to address funding issues and coordinate efforts for gender equality. This historic step by UN Member States aimed to accelerate progress toward gender equality and women’s empowerment.
In 2017, the European Union and the United Nations joined hands for the Spotlight Initiative, aiming to end all violence against women and girls. Also, there was the Global Goals World Cup, a women’s soccer tournament, promoting the impact of sports in promoting gender equality and making positive changes in society. Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN quickly addressed the problems facing women and girls, like the rise in violence and existing inequalities. They launched campaigns to raise awareness about the increased risk of violence during lockdowns.
In conclusion, the UN’s work to promote gender equality is very important for making the world better for everyone, regardless of gender. With the UN’s efforts, the UN keeps focusing on gender equality to achieve their goal regarding gender equality, which sets the stage for a future where everyone is treated fairly and equally.
The writer is a student of “BS Political Science” at the “International Islamic University Islamabad” and a member of PYDIR.