WUNRN
Direct Link to Full 23-Page
2013 Publication:
The
subject of this report is one of the deepest and most persistent fault lines of
poverty and inequality in the world today: the lack of power that women have to
influence decision making compared to men. Evidence shows that we are still far
from solving the problem.4
For
example, in relation to formal political representation, figures show that: The
international process under way to develop a post-2015 development framework
provides an opportunity to address this deeply rooted and persistent inequality
in our society; an inequality that is not only a violation of women’s rights,
but also a barrier to the eradication of poverty. To be successful the
framework needs to take into account the obstacles to gender equality; how and
why these are being perpetuated; and evidence of measures that have proved
successful in addressing them.
This
report will set out VSO’s thinking regarding women’s equal participation and
influence in public and political life, and why it considers these issues to
have intrinsic and instrumental importance. It will assess the situation as it
is now to demonstrate existing gaps in power, and will briefly outline those
barriers to and enablers of participation and influence that VSO has identified
from its own experience of working in 33 countries over 55 years. The report
will conclude by setting out how the post-2015 framework could integrate
these priorities within a goal, target and indicator structure.
“ From the highest levels of government decision-making
to households, women continue to be denied equal opportunity with men to participate
in decisions that affect their lives.”
The Millennium Development Goals Report 2013, UN