GENDER EQUALITY: A PENDING CHALLENGE FOR THE NEW YEAR

Gender equality is a fundamental human right that has been recognized in numerous international conventions, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). However, despite the progress made in recent decades, women and girls continue to face discrimination and violence around the world.

The challenges of gender equality

The challenges of gender equality are diverse and complex. Some of the most important are the following:

Economic inequality: Women continue to earn less than men for the same work. In the world, the wage gap between men and women is 22.
Gender violence: Violence against women and girls is a global pandemic. Every year, millions of women and girls are victims of physical, sexual or psychological violence.
Political and economic representation: Women continue to be underrepresented in positions of political and economic power. In the world, only 26%20of parliamentarians are women.
Gender stereotypes: Gender stereotypes limit the opportunities of women and girls. Gender stereotypes also contribute to violence against women and girls.

What can be done to promote gender equality?

There are many things that can be done to promote gender equality. Some of the most important actions are the following:

Legislation: It is important to have laws that prohibit discrimination and violence against women and girls.
Education: Education is essential to promote gender equality. It is important to educate girls and boys about gender equality and women's rights.
Social changes: It is necessary to promote social changes that promote gender equality. This includes changing gender stereotypes and promoting the participation of women in spaces of power.

Gender equality is an important challenge that requires everyone's commitment. It is a challenge that we must face if we want to build a more just and equitable world.

Some examples of concrete actions that can be taken to promote gender equality in the new year are the following:

Companies can implement gender equality policies that ensure equal pay and the elimination of discrimination in the workplace.
Governments can promote women's education and training, and can ensure that women have access to health and social protection.
Civil society organizations can work to raise awareness of the importance of gender equality and can support women who experience discrimination or violence.

Each person can contribute to promoting gender equality. We can start by questioning gender stereotypes and defending women's rights.