Gender Equality: An Old Yet Unaddressed Issue [2012 Archive]

It is because the complexity of the situation that women face throughout the world that Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has decided to make gender equality one of the top priorities of the United Nations.

Whether it is a case of domestic violence in a British household or limited access to education in Bolivia, women are subject to several forms of discrimination all around the world. In the case of peace and security for example, women are often the victims of multiple atrocities in times of war.  Femicide, sexual abuse, and forced recruitment are just a few examples of this.  Moreover, women play an increasingly important role in taking care of injured soldiers during conflicts.

Patriarchal structures present in modern societies have become an immense obstacle in the issue of gender inequality.  Many cultures limit the civic engagement of women in the public realm, restricting their involvement in social activities.  That is the case for many countries, where women cannot engage in politics or have a very poor access to education thereby diminishing their chances of becoming active individuals.

Another area where women continue to be discriminated against, however in a more subtle way, is the economy.  As women have been historically relegated to domestic work, their participation in other activities involves a change in the paradigm regarding the division of labor that not many countries are willing to undertake.   Similarly, they face an unfavorable situation when it comes to wages because many of them are underpaid for their jobs.

The UN Women committee at GCIMUN is currently dealing with the topic of peace and security for women.  Delegations such as Mexico, Norway and Bangladesh have played a crucial role in setting the stage for an active debate by introducing proposals for funding programs that promote gender equality, pushing forward micro financial strategies in order to allow women to participate in the economy, and designing guidelines for the education of young men and women.

The delegations are expected to address the issues of displacement and violence against women in times of war and to evaluate the situation of women in countries like Libya and Syria.