This is important vocab needed to understand gender equality even further.

Gender Based Violence - An umbrella term for any harmful act that is perpetrated against a person’s will and that is based on socially ascribed (gender) differences between females and males. The nature and extent of specific types of GBV vary across cultures, countries and regions. Examples include sexual violence, including sexual exploitation/abuse and forced prostitution, domestic violence, trafficking, forced/early marriage, harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation, honour killings and widow inheritance.

Gender Balance - This is a human resource issue calling for equal participation of women and men in all areas of work (international and national staff at all levels, including at senior positions) and in programmes that agencies initiate or support (e.g. food distribution programmes). Achieving a balance in staffing patterns and creating a working environment that is conducive to a diverse workforce improves the overall effectiveness of our policies and programmes, and will enhance agencies’ capacity to better serve the entire population.

Gender Norms/Roles - Accepted attributes and characteristics of male and female gendered identity at a particular point in time for a specific society or community. They are the standards and expectations to which gender identity generally conforms, within a range that defines a particular society, culture and community at that point in time. Gender norms are ideas about how men and women should be and act. Internalized early in life, gender norms can establish a life cycle of gender socialization and stereotyping.

Social and behavioral norms that, within a specific culture, are widely considered to be socially appropriate for individuals of a specific sex. These often determine the traditional responsibilities and tasks assigned to men, women, boys and girls. Gender-specific roles are often conditioned by household structure, access to resources, specific impacts of the global economy, occurrence of conflict or disaster, and other locally relevant factors such as ecological conditions

Patriarchy - Social system in which men hold the greatest power, leadership roles, privilege, moral authority and access to resources and land, including in the family. Most modern societies are patriarchies.

Reproductive Rights - Reproductive rights include the rights of all individuals and couples to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children, and to have the information and means to do so. Further, decisions concerning reproduction should be made free from discrimination, coercion and violence. These services are essential for all people, married and unmarried, including adolescents and youth.

I feel as though it isn't taken seriously enough, especially in third-world countries or countries that have misogyny deeply rooted in their culture such as how in Zambia, women aren't allowed to paddle their boats.

I think the global community should be doing more to address this issue because it is proven that gender equality will make a healthier, wealthier, more productive, and more peaceful world.

Many women experience gender-based violence in all parts of the world. This is a huge problem because many men perform those acts of violence against women. With the attention of the global community, we can aim to stop all forms for gender-based violence.

Yes, many people already advocate for gender equality but we need more people. We need men and women to both advocate for gender equality because it is so common that a lot of people gloss over it as something they are used to.

The consequences of inaction include

• a rise in gender-based violence

• increased poverty and hunger

• a lesser female population

• more child marriages

• abolishment of reproductive rights

  There are many more consequences but these will have a huge negative impact on the world.

  The consequences pf action include

• less poverty and hunger

• more women in political jobs

• more opportunities for women

• equal education

  and many many more. The consequences of action will better the world and make it a more peaceful and safer place.

  
  

The petition said "Niger state government should prioritise the education of the girls instead of forcing them into marriage. We demand immediate action to halt the proposed forced marriages and to instead implement measures that will empower these girls to lead dignified and fulfilling lives,”

This ties into Gender Equality because many women worldwide are forced into child marriages and forced marriages because of kidnappings or because they are sold by their families for money. The UN is working towards stopping all child marriages worldwide.