SDG 5 (Sustainable Development Goal 5) is focused on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. It is one of the 17 goals established by the United Nations in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The aim of SDG 5 is to eliminate gender disparities in areas such as education, employment, healthcare, political participation, and social rights.
Key Targets of SDG 5:
- End all forms of discrimination against women and girls everywhere.
- Eliminate violence against women and girls, including trafficking and sexual exploitation.
- Eliminate harmful practices like child marriage and female genital mutilation.
- Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through public services, social protection, and shared household responsibilities.
- Ensure women’s full participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life.
- Universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.
- Enforce reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, including access to land, property ownership, financial services, and inheritance.
In Pakistan, SDG 5 is critical for addressing gender disparities that persist in areas like education, employment, and political representation.
1. Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
Domestic Violence:
In Pakistan, 28% of women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence, and 6% have experienced sexual violence. Furthermore, 34% of ever-married women have experienced spousal physical, sexual, or emotional violence, while 5% have experienced spousal sexual violence (Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017–18).
Honor Killings:
Human Rights Watch estimates that almost 1,000 women are murdered in Pakistan each year in the name of honor, though many cases go unreported. Data from the Aurat Foundation indicates that between 2014 and 2019, more than 3,800 women were killed in the name of honor. Many of these cases are settled out of court due to loopholes in the legal system that allow families to “forgive” the perpetrators.
Child Marriage:
Approximately 18.3% of girls in Pakistan are married before their 18th birthday, and 3.6% are married before the age of 15. Meanwhile, 4.7% of boys are married before the age of 18. Laws like the Child Marriage Restraint Act are not uniformly enforced, especially in rural areas where local customs and tribal laws often prevail.
2. Women’s Education
Enrollment Trends:
Data from UNESCO (2021) reveals that while there has been some progress, significant gaps remain:
Gender Education Indicators Male Female
Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) – Pre-Primary 79% 74%
GER – Primary Classes (1-5) 105% 97%
GER – Middle Classes (6-8) 60% 55%
GER – Secondary Classes (9-12) 39% 34%
This table illustrates the gender disparities in education at different levels in Pakistan.
Female Teachers:
A significant shortage of female teachers in rural areas further hinders girls’ access to education.
Government Spending:
The government currently spends about 1.7% of its GDP on education, far below the recommended 4-6% by UNESCO. This underfunding contributes to inadequate infrastructure, lack of trained teachers, and insufficient educational materials.
3. Economic Participation
Global Comparison:
Globally, women form 38.8% of the labor force, but only around 20% in Pakistan, one of the lowest rates in South Asia.
Sectoral Distribution:
Women predominantly work in the informal sector (65%), such as agriculture, domestic work, and small-scale retail. These jobs often lack job security, social protection, and fair wages.
Entrepreneurship Barriers:
Women entrepreneurs face multiple barriers, including limited access to credit (only 5% of bank loans go to women), lack of business training, restrictive societal norms, and limited market access.
Pay Disparity:
According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report (2022), the gender pay gap in Pakistan is around 34%. In agriculture, where many women work, men are paid almost twice as much for the same tasks.
4.Support Programs:
Kamyab Jawan Program: Offers interest-free loans and vocational training targeting young women to encourage their participation in the workforce.
Ehsaas Kafaalat Program: Provides monthly stipends to 7 million low-income women to enhance their economic status and encourage entrepreneurship.
5. Political Representation
National and Provincial Assemblies:
Women currently make up 20% of the National Assembly (lower house) and Senate (upper house). Provincial assemblies have similar quotas for women’s representation:
Punjab Assembly: 66 seats reserved for women out of 371.
Sindh Assembly: 29 seats reserved for women out of 168.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly: 22 seats reserved for women out of 145.
Balochistan Assembly: 11 seats reserved for women out of 65.
Challenges:
Despite these quotas, women often have limited influence within political parties, which are predominantly male-led. They also face threats, harassment, and societal pressure, which limits their ability to participate fully in political life.
Training Programs:
Organizations like the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and UN Women Pakistan run leadership programs to build women’s capacity for political participation.
6. Legal Framework and Policies
Recent Legal Developments:
The Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act: Implemented in Islamabad and some provinces, this act criminalizes domestic violence and provides protection orders and shelters for victims. However, its implementation varies across provinces.
Anti-Rape (Investigation and Trial) Ordinance (2020): Aims to expedite rape cases and improve victim protection through special courts and forensic evidence. However, challenges include resistance from conservative factions and insufficient resources.
The Women’s Property Rights Act (2021): Ensures the inheritance rights of women and protects them from being deprived of their property. Enforcement remains inconsistent, particularly in rural areas.
7. Progress and Initiatives
Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP):
Aims to alleviate poverty by providing cash transfers to low-income families, especially targeting women. The program reaches over 7 million women, providing them with basic income to support their families. A recent evaluation shows that BISP has improved women’s access to health services, increased school attendance among girls, and provided some level of financial independence.
Women’s Protection Centers and Helplines:
The government, in collaboration with NGOs, has established numerous women protection centers and helplines. However, these centers are often underfunded and concentrated in urban areas, making them less accessible to women in remote regions.
Civil Society Efforts:
NGOs like Aurat Foundation, Bedari, and War Against Rape (WAR) play crucial roles in raising awareness, providing legal aid, and advocating for policy changes. They also conduct training programs on women’s rights, legal literacy, and leadership.
Conclusion:
Achieving SDG 5 in Pakistan is crucial not only for gender equality but also for the overall social and economic development of the country. With continued efforts and reforms, Pakistan can make significant strides in empowering women and ensuring equal opportunities for all.