WUNRN
The International Federation of
University Women (IFUW) calls for the compilation and public
dissemination of GENDER & AGE SPECIFIC DISAGGREGATED DATA to monitor the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) progress and as part of
Post-2015 Development Goals
Geneva,
Switzerland, 08
July 2014 –The International Federation of University Women (IFUW) calls on all governments,
regional agencies and other relevant bodies to incorporate a gender-specific
perspective in gathering, analysing and publishing indicators of development,
so that gender disparities and biases can be properly identified and addressed.
The compilation and publication of data, which specifically examines the
participation of girls and women in society, is needed immediately so as to
track the progress being made in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
IFUW
President Catherine Bell emphasised that “it is not enough to show general, aggregated
trends of development within countries. Given the increased vulnerability of
girls and women in areas such as education, health and employment, we must have
gender indicators that accurately reflect whether and to what extent progress
is being made in closing gender inequalities.”
Both
the UN Population
Fund (UNFPA) and the UN
Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) have expressed concern that not all
countries are using gender disaggregated
data and thus “do not provide sufficient information about the situation of
women and girls throughout their life cycle”.[1]
Where
gender disaggregated data does exist, the results provide concrete cause for
concern in terms of the disparities between male and female empowerment. Gender
statistics within education highlight the stark reality of inequality; of the
774 million people who are illiterate in the world, over two thirds are female,
while there are 4 million more boys than girls enrolled in primary education.[2]
The
International Federation of University Women (IFUW)
is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and has an international membership. Founded
in 1919, IFUW is the leading girls’ and women’s global organisation run by and
for women, advocating for women’s rights, equality and empowerment through
access to quality education and training up to the highest levels.
IFUW
is in special consultative status with ECOSOC and is an NGO maintaining
official relations with UNESCO. Learn about our grants & fellowships and
our advocacy work.
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For more information please contact: Aoife Hegarty, T: +41 22 731 23 80;
Email: ah@ifuw.org
[1] UN Commission on
the Status of Women, ‘Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the
Millennium Development Goals for women and girls: Agreed Conclusions’ 58th
Session, 10-21 March, 2014 UN Doc. E/CN.6/2014/L.7.
2 UNESCO ‘Education for all
Global Monitoring Report: Girls’ Education- The Facts’ October 2013 http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/ED/GMR/images/2011/girls-factsheet-en.pdf