UNFPA's Contribution to Meeting the MDGs:
Findings from the United Nations Millennium Project

Gender Equality Findings

The United Nations Millennium Project found that gender equality is essential for achieving the MDGs. And, gender equality cannot be achieved without guaranteeing women's and girls' reproductive health and rights.

Additional information and sources:

• “Specific interventions to address gender inequality should be an intrinsic part of all MDG-based investment packages. They should also address systemic challenges such as protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights (including access to information and family planning services), equal access to economic assets such as land and housing, increased primary school completion and expanded access to post-primary education for girls, equal labor market opportunities, freedom from violence and increased representation at all levels of governance. One essential step to addressing these systematic challenges is the collection of gender-disaggregated data for monitoring progress,” according to Investing in Development (Overview, page 30)

• Seven priorities for action have been identified by the Education and Gender Equality Task Force in order to achieve gender equality. These include more:

  • educational opportunities (primary and post-primary) for women;
  • access to sexual and reproductive health and rights;
  • reducing time burdens;
  • guaranteeing property and inheritance rights;
  • improving income-generating opportunities;
  • improving political participation;
  • and reducing violence against girls and women.