Towards the first generation free of child labour

An integrated and interdependent analysis of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in relation to Target 8.7

5. Gender equality

While the world has achieved progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment under the Millennium Development Goals (including equal access to primary education between girls and boys), women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence in every part of the world.

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 fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large.

End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. Gender discrimination often deprives girls of access to adequate health and nutrition services, thus increasing their mortality. In adolescence, gender disparities widen and may play a role in promoting child marriage: about 1 in 9 women under age 18 in developing countries marries before the age of 18, one third of them before the age of 15 (UNICEF, 2014).