GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT

Coursework

Word Count: 2050

                                                   

                                                POLICY BRIEF

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are set of eight goals agreed in a meeting held at the United Nations World Summit on social development in Copenhagen in the year 1995 to assist in the transformation of the countries in the global south to achieve development.  The goals was to reduce by half the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015, and targets are on income poverty and hunger, maternal and child mortality reduction, health services for all, gender inequality and the environment by creating a sustainable means; these eight goals provide diverse scope for the eradication of extreme poverty (UNDP, 2010).  This brief will evaluate some of the MDGs goals and the achievements till present, it will also examine the link between poverty and gender inequality.  There have been lots of debates and materials on gender but the concept of ‘gender’ though widely used often misunderstood; this brief will examine the definition of gender and how it is construed socially. More so; this brief will look at some new sets of consideration that could possibly become relevant in rethinking new policies to a more successful MDGs goals, especially in the area of using gender as a new lens to view development.  

In the latest WB report (2010) the chart on poverty and inequality revealed that gender inequality (MDG3) and poverty alleviation (MDG 5) are still below the target line. Although, a reduction in poverty was recorded in China and some other parts of Asia but in Sub Saharan Africa and South Asia poverty is still below the target line.  In the area of universal primary education (MDG 2) the report stated that target is being met, with over 90 percent of primary age children enrolled with increase among girls; this is said to be a step into shrinking the gender gap in education. Gender gap may be shrinking in primary education, but in tertiary education, employment, maternal health care, political position for women and gender parity is still evident. (WB, 2010. p16).  This latest WB report has shown the urgent need for women to be more involved in the development thinking, according to Pearson (2000, p.1) it was argued that “gender is still a central part of the understanding and objectives of development” (Pearson, 2000. p.384).  Gender and development (GAD) has created the realisation for the need of women to participate in political policy making and decision making that will advance social change and poverty alleviation (Cornwall and White, 2000. P.1).  According to Holmes and Jones (2010, p.1) “...gender inequality causes and perpetuates poverty and vulnerability, especially for women, while greater gender equality can help to reduce poverty and vulnerability...” (Holmes and Jones, 2010. p.1)

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The Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) as part of the UN’s charter on equality has been promoting changes for women and advocate for gender equality and empowerment, and in  discrimination against women was defined as “...any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field” (UN, 2009).  Gender ...

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