However we refer to the new framework adopted by 197 countries in September — “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” or “The Global Goals,” for example — one thing is for sure: locally led solutions addressing the underlying causes of poverty, inequality and discrimination will be crucial if the Sustainable Development Goals are to live up to their promise of “transformative change.”
A case in point is the opportunity the SDGs offer to galvanize the support needed to finally achieve women’s full, equal and meaningful public and political participation. A Millennium Development Goals indicator on women’s share of seats in national legislatures led to an increase in women’s numerical representation, but little attention was paid to the barriers to women’s meaningful participation — such as whether women are actually able to influence decisions once in post, or what happens at sub-national levels.
With target 5.5 on women’s full and effective participation and leadership at all levels of decision making, the SDGs offer the chance to change this. Mainstreaming enthusiasts will also be heartened to know that this is backed up under target 16.7, on ensuring “responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.”
About the author
Abigail Hunt
Abigail Hunt is policy and advocacy manager at Womankind Worldwide. She is also co-chair of the UK Gender and Development Network Working Group on Women’s Participation and Leadership.
