Health and Gender Equality: Policy Brief

Yordi Aguirre, I., Nihlen, A., Ward, N. and Ukhova, D. (2019) Health and Gender Equality: Policy Brief. Other. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe.

Abstract

The framework provided by the Sustainable Development Goals (‎SDGs)‎ offers a unique opportunity to achieve gender equality and simultaneously improve health and well-being for all. SDG5 highlights gender equality as a stand-alone goal but also recognizes progress on this SDG not only contributes to the others, but many SDGs cannot be achieved without progress on gender inequality. Member States of the WHO European Region have some of the highest levels of gender equality in the world, but there are differences across the Region. Gender inequality is not simply a matter of human rights; evidence demonstrates that it has a significant negative impact on health and well-being – whether through discrimination, violence, inadequate sexual and reproductive rights and health, unpaid care work, child marriage or genital mutilation. Gender power relations and gender norms and stereotypes affect women’s and men’s exposure and vulnerability to certain health risks, their health-seeking behaviour, their ability to access health services and the way that health systems respond to their needs. More equitable gender norms, roles and relations could profoundly improve health outcomes for both women and men. WHO commits at all levels of engagement, to the implementation of gender equality, equity and rights-based approaches to health that enhance participation, build resilience, and empower communities. In the WHO European Region, the Strategy on Women’s Health and Well-being and the Strategy on the Health and Well-being of Men strengthen the links between SDG 3 and SDG 5 and provide a comprehensive working framework for Member States.

• Item Type: Research Reports or Papers (Other)
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Ukhova, Dr Daria
• Authors: Yordi Aguirre, I., Nihlen, A., Ward, N., and Ukhova, D.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences
• Publisher: World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe