Citizen’s call for a gender equal role: A roadmap for action

Published at the beginning of the year, ‘’Citizen’s call for a gender equal role: A roadmap for action” reveals people’s attitudes towards the 5th Sustainable Development Goals – gender equality, their ideas about ways to promote it. According to the study, governments should make greater efforts to promote gender equality, as well as women’s movements. Leaders should do their utmost to increase women’s representation in decision-making processes through quotas as well as equal pay. 

The survey was conducted by the Women Deliver and Focus 2030 initiative. It is unique in its coverage and volumes. It has been performed in 17 countries: Australia, Argentina, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, China, South Africa, Switzerland, Tunisia and the USA. These countries are home to half of the world’s population and more than half of the world’s women. The survey was conducted online, from July 24, 2020 to August 4, 2020, by the Deltapoll Institute, involving 1,000 respondents in each country. Nine of the selected countries are high-income, five are upper-middle-income, and three are lower-middle-income. The aim of the research was to find out the public opinion and expectations on gender equality. 

The survey shows that 80% of the world’s population and 76% of respondents in Canada support the idea of ​​gender equality, and want governments to do more to promote gender equality. “Citizens demand a world of gender equality ․ The Roadmap to Action not only clearly states what people want to see, but also identifies areas where leaders and decision-makers can have the most significant impact.

According to the survey, 80% of respondents believe that gender equality is important, 65% want their government to make more efforts to promote gender equality, 82% believe that women should be involved in COVID -19 in all response and recovery operations.

According to the survey, people believe that governments’s primary responsibility for achieving gender equality lies with governments. One in two respondents believe that governments should reform the law to promote equality between women and men and to eliminate discrimination against women.

Gender equality is also important for voters. 41% of respondents said they were ready to vote for a candidate who supports the idea of gender equality in the upcoming elections, while only 5% said that their government should not support gender equality.

More than half of the women surveyed, 57%, stated that they had experienced gender inequality at least once in their personal, professional or public life.

60% of respondents are convinced that gender equality has a serious impact on overcoming poverty.

The survey of public opinion is used in the context of the Generation of Equality Forum in the middle of this year, as it provides an opportunity for governments, the private sector and global civil society leaders to take bold, concrete action to promote gender equality around the world.

Summarizing the results of the research, the authors have singled out 8 main actions that can contribute to the establishment of gender equality around the world. They are formulated as proposals to governments, feminist movements, and public sector figures.

The first is to take on bolder commitments and take constructive action to promote gender equality around the world. 

The second is the alignment of financial  reporting mechanisms with gender equality commitments.

The third proposal concerns the development of comprehensive policies and programs aimed at promoting cooperation between thematic areas.

The fourth proposal presented by the authors of the report refers to the identification and elimination of gender norms that hinder gender equality through advocacy and public awareness campaigns.

The fifth proposal addresses the elimination of discriminatory laws, as well as the implementation of policies that protect the health and rights of girls and women and promote gender equality.

In the sixth point, the authors recommend the introduction of a mechanism for gender data collection and analysis that can justify the policies being developed.

The seventh suggestion refers to the realities conditioned by the pandemic. According to the authors, decision-makers need to make sure that all COVID-19 pandemic response programs are gender-sensitive, taking into account discrimination such as racial affiliation and poverty which are related to the health, socio-economic impact of the pandemic. 

Finally, the authors advise decision-makers to ensure that all investments, policies, and programs take into account the needs of under-represented groups of women, girls, and youth alike.

Full text in Armenian