For our organization, achieving gender equality is indispensable to ensure social, economic growth and a fair society where everyone, regardless of their gender and physical abilities can enjoy and live their lives to the fullest. Gender equality is not a mere slogan, it is crucial for the advancement of a community and a whole society. A lot of research has suggested that communities that have succeeded in bridging the gender gap are more stable, and prosperous, socially equitable, and violence-free, and happier. Enacting laws that protect women and girls in a society is a giant step toward gender equality; however, it is not enough.

 

For AFPA, what can really contribute to bridging the gap between men and women is equal access to education, information and resources. In this regard, we strongly believe that “providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes will fuel sustainable economies and benefit the whole society.” We share United Nations Development Programme’s Goal 5 and its 9 targets, and know from experience that sustainable development is not achievable without women empowerment and access to material resources to support themselves and their families.

 

TARGET 5.1: END DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS

End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.

 

TARGET 5.2: END ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST AND EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS

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.

 

TARGET 5.3: ELIMINATE FORCED MARRIAGES AND GENITAL MUTILATION

Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

 

TARGET 5.4: VALUE UNPAID CARE AND PROMOTE SHARED DOMESTIC RESPONSIBILITIES

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 as nationally appropriate.

 

TARGET 5.5: ENSURE FULL PARTICIPATION IN LEADERSHIP AND DECISION-MAKING

Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

 

TARGET 5.6: UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS

Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.

 

TARGET 5.7: EQUAL RIGHTS TO ECONOMIC RESOURCES, PROPERTY OWNERSHIP AND FINANCIAL SERVICES

Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws.

 

TARGET 5.8: PROMOTE EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.

 

TARGET 5.9: ADOPT AND STRENGTHEN POLICIES AND ENFORCEABLE LEGISLATION FOR GENDER EQUALITY

Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.

 

Ending all discrimination against women and girls living in rural Haiti is not only a basic human right, it’s crucial to bridge the gender gap, the rural-urban gap, reduce poverty, and ensure a sustainable future in all remote villages across Haiti.. In order to shift the patriarchy-like paradigm and promote matriarchal values, we propose to continue empowering women and girls. Moreover, we create opportunities to raise the awareness of men living in rural communities on the benefits of gender equality, which does not aim to replace men. It is intended to create communities where men and women work together with equal rights and responsibilities to ensure the well-being of one another and the whole society at large. In other words, gender equality becomes real when women and men have access to the same opportunities, rights, opportunities to choose, material conditions - for example, equal access to medical care, sharing of economic resources, even participation to the exercise of political power.