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India paints a mixed picture on gender equality: UN report

The index was released by ‘Equal Measures 2030’, a global partnership of nine civil society and private sector organisations.

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A sustainable development goal gender index to track progress for girls and women and to measure gender equality across the issues covered in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was launched earlier this week in New York.

The index aims to help women across sectors measure progress on the gender equality aspects of the SDGs and to use data, stories and evidence to hold policymakers accountable in their respective countries. The SDG gender index aims to capture as many gender issues as possible. The index was released by ‘Equal Measures 2030’, a global partnership of nine civil society and private sector organisations.

A report based on data from six key countries — India, Indonesia, Kenya, Senegal, Colombia and El Salvador — shows a mixed picture for India. In SDG 5 (Gender Equality), India has the highest score on legal grounds for abortion, along with Colombia. In SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), India registers a strong commitment to gender budgeting.

However, in SDG 2 (Hunger, Food Security and Nutrition), India lags behind other countries. Rates of stunting among girls are the highest, and anaemia among women is nearly double that of Colombia, El Salvador, Indonesia and Kenya. India had the lowest percentage of women in its national Parliament: 12 per cent compared to 42 per cent in Senegal. In terms of early and forced marriages, India was second highest. Social norms on discrimination are such that 45 per cent Indian women reported believing that a husband is justified in hitting his wife.

In 2015, 193 countries pledged to end gender inequality by 2030. Only 12 years remain for that deadline, and yet, a few countries are making the policy, law and budget commitments needed to achieve gender equality by 2030.

What Report Says

  • India had the best score for gender equality, including legal grounds for abortion
  • India lags behind other countries when it comes to food security, hunger and nutrition
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