Achieving gender equality is more than 50-50 representation; it is also about recognizing and respecting women’s rights as human rights, treating women with dignity, offering them equal opportunities to participate fully in the socioeconomic and political development of their individual countries

Today we are launching a campaign called “HeForShe.” I am reaching out to you because we need your help. We want to end gender inequality — and to do this we need everyone to be involved. This is the first campaign of its kind at the UN: we want to try and galvanize as many men and boys as possible to be advocates for change. And we don’t just want to talk about it. We want to make sure it is tangible.

Gender parity is a statistical measure that compares women and men through their income, education, and work hours among other points. It is also an important tool for policymakers striving towards gender equality.

The engagement of men and boys for gender equality and women’s rights promotion is really fundamental and needed. We need men to challenge gender stereotypes, to share equitably in family and household responsibilities, to be positive role models in their communities and their families.

As we continue to advocate and push for gender parity and equality, it's also important that we do that through the lens of Diversity and Unity.

Gender equality is a prerequisite for making sustainable development a reality. As young people, we have to inform ourselves and passionately advocate and work to address the barriers hindering equality for all

Gender Equality cannot be achieved without free and open spaces. Spaces that are accessible, spaces that are inviting and inclusive. The Women Deliver Conference is one of those spaces. There are other spaces that need to be accessible for girls and women to live in while pursuing their goals. However, these spaces are often under the control of governments, families, and existing policies. To achieve gender equality it's important that these spaces remain open and democratic, and remain respectful to every individual despite identity,

I have pledged to improve the representation of women at the staff levels where parity is not achieved, as a significant step towards meeting the goal of gender parity at all levels by the end of 2021. My aim is that we build and cultivate an enabling working environment which provides the same chances and opportunities to male and female staff.

Gender equality is critical for the development and peace of every nation.

It was not easy for the gender movement to easily convince that gender should not be a point of discrimination. It is imbibed in the viewpoint of society. You don’t find these things on the cover of a book; they are very deeply rooted. Such things exist in the being of a society. It requires a very systematic and collaborative effort to address them. In my opinion, empowering a society that has zero tolerance for any form discrimination is the solution. I know it is a long term investment and people would want an answer for facing discrimination that entails their group being given priority in this fight. However, that would result in other groups being left behind. I would encourage partnership, human oriented thinking of development where it is not only about numbers rather it is about the ability to ensure that no one is left behind. I would encourage joint movement of human beings and recognition of human diversity as values in a given society. I think that can take us forward.

I am really happy to say that we have made some progress on gender parity, starting with education. With the introduction of UPE [Universal Primary Education], we were able to achieve 50/50 percent enrollment of both boys and girls. But where we’ve got the challenge in UPE is the high school drop-out [rates] of girls due to poverty at home and due to some social problems. And the same extends to education in upper primary where the girls drop out for early marriages and to assist their mothers and aunties with household work and other things.

There is a standalone goal, which is goal number two, on the empowerment of girls and women and achieving gender equality. With regards to violence against women, the panel addresses it at length and in an inclusive way ... We’re hoping that this goal and set of targets will put an end into violence and discrimination against women, empower women, and achieve gender equality and justice and for the better development of our world.

The Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill serves as a legislative vehicle to drive the agenda for a more inclusive society. Gender inequality is a major hindrance to our progress, affecting not only democracy but also our socioeconomic growth, which should be the ultimate goal of any democratic system.

Gender equality is the equal access to opportunities - political, economic and social – for both male and female.