MOD13 CON.docx

**MODULE 13 CONTEMPORARY** **Addressing Gender Equality** A peaceful, affluent, and sustainable society cannot exist without gender equality, which is also an essential human right. The world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030, despite advancements over the past few decades. The wo...

**MODULE 13 CONTEMPORARY** **Addressing Gender Equality** A peaceful, affluent, and sustainable society cannot exist without gender equality, which is also an essential human right. The world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030, despite advancements over the past few decades. The world\'s potential is embodied in half of its population, which comprises women and girls. However, anywhere gender disparity still exists, societal development is blocked. The global average salary gap between men and women in the job market is still 23%, and women devote over three times as much time to unpaid caregiving and household duties as men do. The uneven distribution of unpaid care and domestic work, sexual abuse and exploitation and discrimination in public service continue to be major obstacles. The COVID-19 pandemic has made all of these areas of inequality worse: complaints of sexual assault have increased, women have taken on greater caregiving duties as a result of school closures, and 70% of health and social workers worldwide are female. If current trends continue, it will take an estimated 300 years to eradicate child marriage, 286 years to eliminate discriminatory laws and close legal protection gaps, 140 years to equalize the representation of women in leadership and power positions in the workplace, and 47 years to attain equal representation in national parliaments. **What can we do?** **Promoting Education and Awareness** One effective way to address gender inequality is through education and raising awareness. This includes ensuring equal access to quality education for both girls and boys, promoting gender-sensitive curricula that challenge stereotypes, and providing comprehensive sex education that promotes healthy relationships and consent. **Strengthening Legal and Policy Frameworks** Creating and enforcing robust legal and policy frameworks is essential in addressing gender inequality. This includes implementing and enforcing legislation that prohibits discrimination based on gender and ensuring equal rights and opportunities in areas such as inheritance, property ownership and access to justice. **Empowering Women Economically** Economic empowerment plays a crucial role in addressing gender inequality. Efforts should be made to provide women equal employment opportunities, fair wages, and access to credit and entrepreneurship support. **Indigenous People and Marginalized Communities** Indigenous communities hold a crucial position as stewards of our planet, and their wisdom will be invaluable in assisting international efforts to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Though there has been progress in defending their rights many of the 370 million indigenous peoples worldwide still experience prejudice and dangers to their way of life and ancestral territories. From April 16-27, 2018, at UN Headquarters, the 17th session of the UN Permanent Forum on indigenous Issues will bring together over 1,000 representatives of indigenous people\'s groups, Member States, and UN agencies to address these issues. The custom of communal rights held by indigenous peoples over their lands and resources frequently starkly contrasts the prevailing paradigms of private property development, and individual ownership. The advancement of Indigenous peoples\' collective rights to lands, territories, and resources is increasingly acknowledged to benefit their well-being and the global community by addressing issues like biodiversity loss and climate change. **What can we do?** **Recognition of Land Rights and indigenous Governance** One crucial way to protect the rights of indigenous peoples and marginalized communities is by recognizing and respecting their land rights. This involves acknowledging their traditional territories ensuring legal protection of their lands, and supporting their self-governance and decision-making processes. **Promoting Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC)** FPIC is a principle that ensures meaningful participation and consultation with indigenous peoples and marginalized communities in decision-making processes that affect their rights and interests. This includes obtaining consent before implementing development projects, extractive industries, or policies that could impact their lands resources, or way of life. **Combating Discrimination and Promoting Cultural Diversity** Protecting the rights of indigenous peoples and marginalized communities also involves combating discrimination and promoting cultural diversity. This includes challenging stereotypes. Prejudices and discriminatory practices while promoting respect, understanding, and appreciation of diverse cultures, traditions, and languages: **Discrimination against the members of LGBTQIA+** Discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community refers to the unjust treatment, prejudice, and marginalization faced by individuals based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. This discrimination can occur in various legal, social, cultural, and institutional contexts. Here are some common forms of discrimination experienced by the LGBTQ+ community. **Legal Discrimination** Many countries have laws that discriminate against LGBTQ+ individuals; including criminalization of same-sex relationships, denial of manage rights, and lack of legal protection against discrimination in areas such as employment, housing, and healthcare. These legal barriers perpetuate inequality and limit the rights and opportunities available to LGBTQ+ people. **Social Stigma and Prejudice** LGBTQ+ individuals often face social stigma, prejudice, and stereotypes based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This can result in exclusion, bullying, harassment, and violence, both in personal relationships and in public spaces. Such stigma and prejudice can have severe negative impacts on the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals. **Employment Discrimination** LGBTQ+ individuals may experience discrimination in the workplace, including unequal treatment, denial of job opportunities, harassment, and unfair dismissal based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This discrimination can limit career advancement and economic opportunities for LGBTQ+ individuals. **Access to Healthcare** LGBTQ+ individuals may face discrimination and barriers when accessing healthcare services. This can include healthcare providers who are not knowledgeable or sensitive to LGBTQ+ health concerns, denial of gender-affirming care, and lack of access to appropriate mental health support. **Family and Relationship Discrimination** LGBTQ+ individuals and couples may face discrimination and legal challenges in areas such as adoption, parenting rights, and recognition of their relationships. This can lead to limited legal protections and barriers to building and protecting their families.