Male greed is not the only force holding gender equality back

On International Women's Day, it is worth celebrating the progress that has been made with regards to gender equality, while not losing sight of the huge issues that still remain. Gender equality is one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These followed on from the Millennium Development Goals in 2015 and they too have a 15 year implementation period. Discussing gender equality, which is Goal 5, the UN highlights some the challenges women and girls still face:

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Unfortunately, at the current time, 1 in 5 women and girls between the ages of 15-49 have reported experiencing physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner within a 12-month period and 49 countries currently have no laws protecting women from domestic violence. Progress is occurring regarding harmful practices such as child marriage and FGM (Female Genital Mutilation), which has declined by 30% in the past decade, but there is still much work to be done to complete eliminate such practices.

Sadly some of this abuse is linked with culture and religion and progress will be slow, until people of all creeds and nations acknowledge the fact that what may have been acceptable hundreds of years ago, need not necessarily be the right thing now; just as some things that were acceptable for us as small children are not necessarily so now that we are adults. When inspired people spoke, they spoke to the people of the day, and of course they too belonged to that day. Religious and leaders that have faith in the past, but lack faith in the future are flawed. Humanity is developing and religions and cultures that do not develop with it will be left behind while causing much hardship in the process. Men have been slow to act, but as more and more women take control, the chances are that progress too will speed up.