WUNRN
UNFPA's Strategic Framework on
Gender
Mainstreaming & Women's
Empowerment
2008 - 2011
DELIVERING ON THE PROMISE OF GENDER EQUALITY
Excerpts:
"Countless women throughout the
world suffer the indignities of poverty, illiteracy, discrimination, violence
and injustice simply because they are women. The unequal status, freedoms and
opportunities afforded to women and girls persist to some extent in every
corner of the world, often accepted as 'normal' aspects of society and human
relations."
"In the countdown to the
Millennium Development Goals' 2015 deadline, the UN System is urgently charged
with the challenged to improve the lot of the world's most marginalized
populations. Advancing gender equality and empowering women is central to these
goals, especially to reduce poverty, maternal mortality and the spread of
HIV."
"National policies, laws and
budgets require a gender equality perspective. They are springboards for
determining the political and funding agenda at the highest levels."
"Gender-based violence not only
has grave consequences for the psychosocial and physical well-being of women,
including their sexual and reproductive health and its implications for the HIV
and AIDS pandemic, it also impacts public budgets and national development
through increased costs, loss of productivity and erosion of human
capital."
"A gender perspective in
humanitarian response, transition and recovery is essential for effective
policy and programming. It helps ease the passage from crisis to development
for populations in conflict or disaster-affected countries.Transition and
recovery periods offer a unique opportunity for countries to set off on a path
of gender equality and improved prospects for poverty reduction, development
and lasting peace."