This document discusses gender equality and sustainable development. It summarizes that gender equality is a fundamental human right recognized in several international agreements. While governments have a primary duty to protect human rights, businesses also have a responsibility to respect women's rights. Women's empowerment is critical to sustainable development by promoting economic growth, social development, and improving quality of life. However, structural barriers continue to hinder women's full participation and contributions to economic growth and sustainable development. The document argues that promoting gender equality is important for effective climate action and sustainable development.

1. Gender equality and ustainable
development
OSCE, • Murod Khusanov
OSCE Bishkek Academy – 2022
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Gender equality is a fundamental human right recognized in international
human rights treaties and internationally-agreed on documents, including:
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)
ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
(CEDAW)
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
While governments have a primary duty to protect human rights, businesses
have a responsibility to respect human rights, including the rights of women
and girls. Further, the UN Global Compact and the WEPs call on businesses
to support women’s rights.
The United Nations Global Compact’s Human Rights and Labour Principles
The Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

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Women’s empowerment is a critical driver of sustainable development.
Empowering women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors
and throughout all levels of economic activity is essential to:
Expand economic growth and build strong economies
Promote social development and establish more stable and just societies
Improve quality of life for women, men, families and communities
Promote sustainable development and protect environment

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Women’s empowerment is not only a development goal in itself but also a
key ingredient to achieving a wide range of sustainable development
targets.
When addressing global challenges, it is imperative that the particular
impacts on women and girls are considered and that the talents, skills and
innovation of both women and men are leveraged to bring lasting change.
The Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that if women had the
same access as men, agricultural output in 34 developing countries
would rise by an estimated average of up to 4%. This could reduce the
number of undernourished people in those countries by as much as
17%, translating to up to 150 million fewer hungry people

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Structural, cultural and unconscious barriers continue to hinder women’s and
girl’s rights and contributions to economic growth, sustainable development
and business productivity and performance:
Women are underrepresented in power and decision making roles
Women receive unequal pay for equal work
Experience physical and/or sexual violence
Are not offered the same opportunities in jobs, education, training and
professional development
Women are economically disadvantaged and lack equal opportunity to compete
for business
Gender equality continues to be under-prioritized by decision makers

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Fortune 500 companies with three or more women
corporate directors outperformed those with no women
on the board
Reported increases in 46%
60%
84%
Return on
Equity
Return on
Invested Capital
Return on
Sales

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46%
60%
Gender Inequality Index

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46%
60%
HDI and GII

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46%
60%
HDI and GII
Botswana
Zimbabwe

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Gender inequality and climate change
The climate crisis is not “gender neutral”. Women and girls experience the greatest
impacts of climate change, which amplifies existing gender inequalities and poses
unique threats to their livelihoods, health, and safety.

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Five facts about gender inequality and climate change:
1. Women face barriers to leaving areas prone to climate change and natural
disaster
2. Women face disproportionately high health risks from the effects of climate
change
3. Gender-specific threats are used to silence female environmental leaders
4. Women are excluded from decision-making spaces and climate change
negotiations
5. Female-led groups do not receive sufficient climate funding
Source: United Nations Foundation

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Equal countries have better climate action
gender inequality and vulnerability to
climate change
gender inequality and climate
action.
Indices used: Gender inequality, (Gender Inequality Index from the United Nations Development Programme),
vulnerability (ND-GAIN index) using 2017 country-level estimates, climate action (CLIMI index) using 2005-2010
average country level estimates. Source: Andrijevic et al (2020).

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What benefits could bring putting women in the heart of climate action:
• Increase agricultural production and food security and reduce carbon dioxide
emissions by making agriculture more efficient by increasing yields would by 20-
30% and reduce the pressure to deforest more land
• Higher percentages of women on corporate boards positively correlates with the
disclosure of carbon emissions information
• In transition from extractive industries expansion to creating new jobs and reskill
women workers especially in the area of renewable energy is an effective way to
increase productivity in RE and shift focus to green economy
• By improving sexual and reproductive health, and by increasing education of
women lead to informed family planning and contributes to the sustainable
growth of population

14. Thank you!
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