Gender Equality

GenderEquality Gender equality is, first and foremost, a human right. Women are entitled to live in dignity and in freedom from want and from fear.

Women continue to have fewer rights, lower education and health status, less income, and less access to resources and decision-making than men. Nevertheless, women's critical roles in food production, income generation, management of natural resources, community organization and domestic responsibilities are essential for sustainable development.

Empowering women is an indispensable tool for advancing development and reducing poverty If equitable and sustainable progress is to be achieved, women's status must be improved, their rights must be respected, and their contributions must be recognized. Empowered women contribute to the health and productivity of whole families and communities and to improved prospects for the next generation. The importance of gender equality is underscored by its inclusion as one of the eight Millenium Development Goals. Gender equality is acknowledged as being a key to achieving the other seven goals.

Yet discrimination against women and girls – including gender-biased violence, economic discrimination, reproductive health inequities, and harmful traditional parctices- remains the most pervasive and persistent form of inequality. Women and girls bear enormous hardship during and after humanitarian emergencies, especially armed conflicts.

The Association Comunita’ Papa Giovanni XXIII, called to sharing life with the most vulnerable in society, is committed to advocating for gender equality according to the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church. Especially in Africa, the Association is promoting empowerment of women with microfinance through the Rainbow Project.


Documents

APG23: Association Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII

  1. Financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women
    Intervention of the APG23 at the 52° session of the Commission on the Status of Women - March 2008

  2. The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS.
    Intervention of the APG23 at the 53° session of the Commission on the Status of Women - March 2009