Stakeholders Forum Sustainable Development Goals E-Inventory addresses Gender

The Stakeholders Forum Sustainable Development Goals E-Inventory includes gender in its analysis of proposals related to the themes of the Eighth Session of the Open Working Group (OWG-8). It points out that the TST Issues Brief on Gender declares that inequality between men and women ‘is the most pervasive form of inequality around the world and a pressing human rights concern….' 

Gender equality is shown as being the second most common thematic area covered by proposals in the e-Inventory. Sexual and reproductive health and rights is also a high priority issue for stakeholders.

As included in the E-Inventory, while most proposals containing goals, targets and indicators (GTIs) related to gender propose a standalone goal, there seems to be a broad consensus that gender cannot be confined to a single goal. The Gender and Development Network (UK) suggest that the post-2015 framework should also include ‘specific targets under each goal that reflect the gender barriers women and girls face and attempt to tackle the structural causes.’. The Swiss Government proposes a standalone goal on gender equality and women’s empowerment, but stress that it ‘needs to go in conjunction with consequent mainstreaming of gender considerations into all other relevant sustainable development goals.’

Child marriage is one of the items addressed in many of the proposed GTIs. The Girl Effect is proposing a target to ‘Eliminate child marriage globally by 2030, while the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) proposes a target to ‘end child, early and forced marriage and other harmful traditional and customary practices that violate women’s and girls’ rights.’

There are also a number of proposed GTIs related to gender-based violence (GBV), including targets to eliminate, reduce and prevent violence against women, children and vulnerable groups.’

Many gender-related proposals included targets and indicators on sexual and reproductive health. The APWLD, for example, proposes a target to ‘Guarantee universal access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information, education and services and eliminate legal and policy barriers to access’ and the Consultative Group on Early Childhood Care and Development propose a target to ‘Assure universal access to reproductive health care, including comprehensive prenatal screening, education and health care visits that include preparation for delivery, parenting education and support and family planning options.’ The UK Network on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights propose indicators on ‘Unmet need for family planning disaggregated by location, age, poverty, education and caste.’

The full report is available here.