08 March 2023 marks International Women's Day. And this is a very special occasion to continue to advocate for the promotion, protection, defense and safeguarding of their human rights, whose work extends to promoting justice and resilience.
1.- Figures to reflect on
According to the United Nations "World Population Prospects 2022"[1](United Nations, 2022), during the past year, the percentage of women in the world amounted to "49.7%"[2] (United Nations, 2022), compared to "50.3%"[3] (United Nations, 2022). However, the projection for 2050 is that there will be a balance with equal numbers of women and men in the world.
In addition, the number of older women is "55.7%"[4] (United Nations, 2022), with Europe and North America having the largest population of women over 65, followed by "Australia and East Asia"[5] (United Nations, 2022).
In contrast, the region with the highest number of women of reproductive and childbearing age is the "Latin American region."[6] (United Nations, 2022)
2.- Equality and Empowerment
Given the data presented above, it is important to continue to protect the human rights of women in all areas: rural women, women in war and conflict zones, women in natural disaster zones, women with disabilities, women in the workplace, and the list goes on.
There are many tools for this, such as international treaties, UN Specialized Agencies, national and local laws, national specialized bodies and institutions, and national and international courts.
3.- Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and Women
Poverty (SDG 1) among women and girls amounts to "380 million in extreme poverty"[7](UNWOMEN, 2023) worldwide. In addition, women's poverty is exacerbated by their workload, with "childcare"[8] (UNWOMEN, 2023), which, in addition to working hours, leads to an opening up of job opportunities between women and men.
Ending hunger (SDG 2), aims to achieve food security for all women in the world, with the equitable distribution of food, as well as their share of the world's food supply and protection of the countryside, being fundamental to this. In the Asian and African region alone, "more than 60% of women work in agriculture."[9] (UNWOMEN, 2023) However, in 2021 "1 in 3 women"[10] (UNWOMEN, 2023) were severely food insecure.
Even more interesting is to analyze that, according to Sustainable Development Goal 5, i.e., gender equality, it would take "286 years"[11] (UNWOMEN, 2023) to eliminate discriminatory laws for women in the world.
4.- Conclusions
Increasing women's quality of life and well-being must continue to be a priority on national and international agendas, which is why, at Global Diplomacy Leadership Actions for Empowerment Change, we will continue to work for women's well-being and empowerment.
[1] (United Nations, 2022) World Population Prospects 2022. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Summary of Results. Pp. 6 Date of access, March 2023, from the web page: https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/sites/www.un.org.development.desa.pd/files/wpp2022_summary_of_results.pdf [2] Ibidem [3] Ibidem [4] Ibidem. Pp. 6 [5] Ibidem. Pp. 8 [6] Ibidem. Pp. 15 [7] (UNWOMEN, 2023) PROGRESS ON THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THE GENDER SNAPSHOT 2022. Pp. 2. Date of Access, March 2023, from the web page: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2022-09/Progress-on-the-sustainable-development-goals-the-gender-snapshot-2022-en_0.pdf [8] (UNWOMEN, 2023) ODS 1: Ending poverty in all its forms around the world. Date of access, march 2023, from the web page: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/women-and-the-sdgs/sdg-1-no-poverty [9] (UNWOMEN, 2023) ODS 2: Ending hunger Ending hunger, achieving food security, and improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture. Date of access, March 2023, from the web page: https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/women-and-the-sdgs/sdg-2-zero-hunger [10] (UNWOMEN, 2023) PROGRESS ON THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS THE GENDER SNAPSHOT 2022. Pp. 2. Date of access, March 2023, from the web page: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2022-09/Progress-on-the-sustainable-development-goals-the-gender-snapshot-2022-en_0.pdf [11] Ibidem
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