Despite an increase in uncovering underlying disparities as well as numerous global and regional initiatives, gender-based discrimination is very widespread around the globe. Women and girls are disproportionately often victims of violence. They have less access to education and health care. At the same time, they perform most of the unpaid care work in families and households (e.g. childcare, care for the elderly). This imbalance was further exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the introduction of voting rights for women in 1918, Austria was a pioneer across Europe with regard to the political empowerment of women. Although the development towards gender equality has progressed quite far here, true equality has not yet been attained. Gender equality is a core topic for the Austrian government. The following information box contains excerpts of the most important objectives of SDG 5.
The UN has set the following goals for gender equality by 2030, which have also beeb incorporated into austrian federal government's 2030 agenda for sustainable development (abridged):
End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation
Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation
Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family
Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life
Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights
Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other assets
Source: Bundeskanzleramt