Giving Compass' Take:

• Michelle Milford, writing for United Nations Foundation, describes how world leaders can take action in  advancing gender equality through avenues like policy and data.

• How feasible are some of these projects for world leaders? How are donors able to play a role in gender equality?

• Learn about gender equality in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Memo to World Leaders: Half of your country’s people are subjugated, less visible, and undervalued.

This year begins the final decade to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); it marks 25 years since the UN’s landmark Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing pushed for more progress on girls’ ands women’s rights and equality; and in the U.S., 2020 is the 100th anniversary of women finally earning the right to vote. Despite years of striving, however, studies suggest it will take almost 100 more years to achieve parity between women and men at work, at school, in health and as leaders with equal political power.

Around the world, gender equality lacks the political will it deserves. World governments – here are five things you can do this year to speed that up, share power with half your people, unlock greater peace and prosperity, and burnish your own legacy.

  1. Level the law.  Governments have the legislative power to remedy gender discrimination enshrined in laws, but often, that power is squandered.
  2. Girls and women count, so make sure you count them. You collect data about your citizens. You do this to understand their lives, foresee demographic challenges, and provide them essential services.
  3. Elevate her. There are women in every country ready and qualified to serve, inform, and improve their governments.
  4. End gender-based violence. You are not doing enough. Make the safety of girls and women a top priority.
  5. Pay for parity. As the UN Secretary-General said last year, “There is a cost to everything. But the biggest cost is to do nothing.” Gender inequality is one of the greatest barriers to human security, peace and development.

Read the full article about world leaders gender equality by Michelle Milford at United Nations Foundation.