ABSTRACT
Women, who make up half of the world’s population, have benefited more than men from the progress in economic and social development in the last three decades. Nevertheless they continue to be overrepresented among the world’s most vulnerable groups, as access to resources and power remains highly skewed towards men. Women empowerment is a goal in its own right but also a key factor for sustainable economic growth, social development and environmental sustainability.
Gender equality and women's empowerment are human rights that lie at the heart of development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The centrality of women’s empowerment and the realization of women’s …show more content…
Linking women empowerment and sustainable development is important for several reasons-
First, it is a moral and ethical imperative: achieving gender equality and realizing the human rights, dignity and capabilities of diverse groups of women is a central requirement of a just and sustainable world.
Second, it is critical to redress the disproportionate impact of economic, social and environmental shocks and stresses on women and girls, which undermine the enjoyment of their human rights and their vital roles in sustaining their families and communities.
Third, and most significantly, it is important to build up women’s agency and capabilities to create better synergies between gender equality and sustainable development …show more content…
(2013) “Gender equality is both a human rights issue and a precondition for, and indicator of, sustainable development.”
Kabeer N. and Natali L. (2013)A simple “win-win” relationship between gender equality and sustainability cannot be assumed. Indeed, some patterns of economic growth are premised on maintaining gender inequalities, such as through maintaining gender wage gaps and entrenching gender discriminatory norms, values and institutions.
Dankelman I. (2010) “Women contribute to sustainable development but they are also affected by the implications of environmental degradation and the negative effects of climate change.”
UNDP (2008) “An empowered woman has a sense of self-worth. She can determine her own choices, and has access to opportunities and resources providing her with an array of options she can pursue. She has control over her own life, both within and outside the home and she has the ability to influence the direction of social change to create a more just social and economic order, both nationally and