By Charlotta Sparre, Ambassador of Sweden in Egypt
This week, as we celebrate the United Nation’s 70th anniversary, it is an opportunity to recognise the many achievements of multilateral cooperation and the many challenges that lie ahead of us to see how we can work together to meet the newly agreed 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The fifth of these goals is to achieve gender equality and empower of women and girls. Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. Providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes will help create sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large.
(Photo by the Ambassador Charlotta Sparre)
Over the last few decades, the world achieved considerable progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. Many countries and societies moved forward, especially in the important field of education, where more girls are now enrolled in schools. Yet globally, women continue to face numerous challenges on issues ranging from gender based violence, economic, social and political participation, land inheritance and ownership, early marriage, and the possibility to work outside their homes.
Sweden, in partnership with the United Nations, is working closely with Egyptian partners to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. Sweden gives a large contribution to a joint UN programme that aims to improve women’s access to legal assistance, public services, finance, and opportunities to create businesses and jobs. This programme is implemented by UNDP, UN Women, and UNFPA, in partnership with the Egyptian government, national institutions, and civil society. The partners are working for better and more equal opportunities and to support women to shape their own lives and contribute to their society’s development.
The programme contributes to Egypt’s work against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), sexual harassment, and violence against women. Through this support, for example, the percentage of circumcised girls between 15 and 17 years has dropped by 13% over the past 6 years.
To provide legal assistance for those who cannot afford it, 32 Legal Aid Offices were established in Family Courts in 20 governorates. Of those who sought legal support, 74% were women. In 2014, Sweden financed the establishment five of the Legal Aid Offices.
The Swedish government also supports projects that train women entrepreneurs through vocational training. In the Egypt Network for Integrated Development (ENID) initiative being implemented in 21 villages in Qena governorate, 68.7% of the jobs were created for women.
(Photo by the Ambassador Charlotta Sparre)
World leaders are increasingly recognising that gender equality is a precondition for development. Complex issues that may have been difficult to address 10 or 20 years ago are now on the agenda of international agreements, such as issues related to violence against women and girls and the role of women in conflict prevention and peace-building.
So with the world realising the benefits of gender equality, what is it that we need to do? Gender equality is achieved when women and men, girls and boys, all have equal rights, conditions, opportunities, and power to shape their own lives and affect society. For this to happen, we need among other things to work to end all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere; to eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres; to eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early, and forced marriage and female genital mutilation; to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights; to ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life; to undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources; and to adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.
We realise that more initiatives, activities, and investments are needed to achieve sustainable impact. It is therefore encouraging to see Egypt’s and the global community’s commitment in dealing with the challenges and the increased involvement of men in promoting gender equality Hopefully more people and institutions will come together to engage on this important issue.
Change is possible, cooperation works, and when gender equality increases poverty is reduced. That’s when we all win!
