GENDER EQUALITY seems like a far-away dream these days, while progress has been made by a
number of groups it is still a discouraging story. Over 2 billion women don’t have the same
employment options as men and at this rate it will take about a century to close the global pay gap. In
the case of human trafficking, where men as much as women are affected, statistics show women and
girls make up over 70% of the world’s human trafficking victims, with regards to this data, gender
equality needs to be a priority.
The Integrating Capacity and Community Advancement Organization (ICCAO) has noted the efforts of
the world in fighting this injustice to attain sustainable development in Tanzania and the world in
general because of the following factors.
IT SAVES LIFE
Because of their lack of empowerment and resources in many places, women and girls face life
threatening situations e.g women and girls of color in the US tend to have higher rates of poverty,
greater challenges accessing health care, reduced access to education employment opportunities
(lower wages when they do find work). At the 2005 world conference on Disaster Reduction, experts
discussed how gender inequality plays a role in death and injury and other data shows that climate
change which results to natural disasters puts women and girls in even more vulnerable positions.
Bringing gender perspective into discussion it allows women to play a bigger role in their own
protection.
IT RESULT IN BETTER HEALTHCARE
Research shows that women in general receive substandard healthcare with regards to men, there
are many reasons for this including lack of education and lower income. Diseases that affect women
more than men such as (Chronic pain condition) aren’t as well-researched and they are often not
taken as seriously by medical professionals. When women are equal in society, their health will be
impacted positively.
IT HELPS BUSINESSES
When women receive the same education and job opportunities as men, they can improve any
organization they join. Studies show in USA (United States of America) that diversity of all types
(gender, race, sexual identity) increases an organization’s productivity and innovation. One 2016
study from the University of California looked at big companies in the state and found that the ones
with women in the top leadership positions performed better than the companies with mostly men at
the top.
IT IS GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY
Women’s impact does not stop with individual companies and organizations. Studies show that
increasing women’s participation in the economy is good for the economy in USA. In the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, if the female employment rates were
raised to match Sweden, it would lead to a GDP (the total monetary or market value of all the finished
goods and services produced within a country’s borders in a specific time period) increase equivalent
to $6 trillion dollars. Gender pay gaps end up costing the economy in these countries.
IT REDUCED POVERTY
Poverty rates are the highest among young girls. As boys and girls get older, the gender gap in poverty
gets larger and this is more likely to happen because girls don’t receive the same education and job
opportunities as boys and when girls marry they often don’t work. Gender inequality keeps women
and their families trapped in a cycle of poverty. When women receive better education, healthcare
and job opportunities they can thrive. Investing in gender inequality is a sustainable and highly
effective way to reduce poverty.
IT LEADS TO BETTER RACIAL EQUALITY
Gender and race equality are closely linked. With issues like the gender pay gap, race plays a big role,
white and asian women earn more than black, and native women in the United Kingdom. In the
United States black women face a higher risk of death from pregnancy-related causes. When gender
equality does not considers race as a factor, it improves race equality at the same time.
IT CAN LEAD TO PEACE
Research shows in human rights, gender equality is linked to peace even more so than a country’s
GDP or level of democracy. In the USA, states with better gender equality are more lenient towards
women serving in the military while in others states women continue to face gender based violence
from their male counterparts. When a country addresses major areas of gender inequality like
education and employment, it fosters peace.
IT REDUCES HUMAN TRAFFICKING
While men are also vulnerable to become victims of human trafficking. Women and girls make up the
majority, they are more vulnerable and traffickers see them as easier targets. With better education
and job options women will be less likely to end up in trafficking situations as often. Gender equality
can also strengthen a country, reducing poverty and instability which fuel human trafficking.
Addressing gender equality is crucial for achieving sustainable development and building a fair and
inclusive society. It requires efforts to challenge social norms, promote equal opportunities, provide
access to education and healthcare and ensure the full participation and representation of women in
all spheres of life. Efforts should be put to promoting legal and policy strengthening and or reform
and empowering women and girls to exercise their sexual and reproductive health and human
rights.
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