Chapter 1 A problem with a solution 27
Chapter 2 Taskforce perspective on gender equality
and empowerment 30
Defining gender equality and empowerment 30
The case for the seven strategic priorities 33
Chapter3 Strengthen opportunities for postprimary
education for girls 36
Why strengthening girls' opportunities for postprimary education is a
strategic priority 37
Progress toward gender equality in education, 1990-2000 42
The costs of gender inequality in education to productivity and economic
growth 47
Interventions to increase gender parity in primary and secondary
education 47
Chapter 4 Guarantee sexual and reproductive health and rights 53
Why guaranteeing sexual and reproductive health and rights is a strategic
priority 54
The costs of poor reproductive health 59
Interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights 60
Chapter 5 Invest in infrastructure to reduce women's
and girls' time burdens 66
Why reducing women's and girls' time burdens is a strategic priority 66
Interventions for gender-responsive infrastructure 69
Conclusion 74
Chapter 6 Guarantee women's property and inheritance rights 75
Why guaranteeing women's property rights is a strategic priority 75
The status of women's property rights: the gender asset gap 78
Interventions for property rights 83
Chapter7 Reduce gender inequality in employment 88
Why reducing gender inequality in employment is a strategic priority 88
Changing patterns in women's employment, 1990-2000 89
Gender inequalities in employment 92
Interventions to decrease gender inequality in employment 96
Conclusion 102
Chapter 8 Increase women's representation in political bodies 104
Why women's increased political representation is a priority 104
Slow progress in women's political participation, 1990-2000 106
Interventions to increase women's political representation 107
Chapter 9 Combat violence against women 110
Why combating violence against women is a strategic priority 110
Prevalence of violence against women 112
The costs of violence against women 114
Interventions for combating violence against women 116
Chapter 10 Data and indicators for monitoring progress 122
Indicators for the seven strategic priorities 123
Recommendations for data gathering and strengthening statistical
systems 128
Chapter 11 The financial costs of interventions to
achieve gender equality 130
Financing interventions to achieve gender equality in education and to
provide reproductive health services 130
The UN Millennium Project needs assessment 131
Conclusion 137
Chapter 12 Making it happen 138
Commitment and mobilization of change agents 138
Technical capacity to implement change 139
Institutional structures and processes 141
Adequate financial resources 143
Accountability and monitoring systems 143
Country case studies 145
Gender mainstreaming in MDG-based country policy processes 152
Conclusion 154
Appendix 1 Education projections and country
level education data 155
Appendix 2 Reproductive health statistics 178
Appendix 3 Employment statistics 180
Appendix 4 Statistics on women's politicalparticipation 189
Appendix 5 Employment indicators 197
Appendix 6 Summary ofe-discussion facilitated by
ActionAid, United Kingdom 198
Chapter 2 Taskforce perspective on gender equality
and empowerment 30
Defining gender equality and empowerment 30
The case for the seven strategic priorities 33
Chapter3 Strengthen opportunities for postprimary
education for girls 36
Why strengthening girls' opportunities for postprimary education is a
strategic priority 37
Progress toward gender equality in education, 1990-2000 42
The costs of gender inequality in education to productivity and economic
growth 47
Interventions to increase gender parity in primary and secondary
education 47
Chapter 4 Guarantee sexual and reproductive health and rights 53
Why guaranteeing sexual and reproductive health and rights is a strategic
priority 54
The costs of poor reproductive health 59
Interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights 60
Chapter 5 Invest in infrastructure to reduce women's
and girls' time burdens 66
Why reducing women's and girls' time burdens is a strategic priority 66
Interventions for gender-responsive infrastructure 69
Conclusion 74
Chapter 6 Guarantee women's property and inheritance rights 75
Why guaranteeing women's property rights is a strategic priority 75
The status of women's property rights: the gender asset gap 78
Interventions for property rights 83
Chapter7 Reduce gender inequality in employment 88
Why reducing gender inequality in employment is a strategic priority 88
Changing patterns in women's employment, 1990-2000 89
Gender inequalities in employment 92
Interventions to decrease gender inequality in employment 96
Conclusion 102
Chapter 8 Increase women's representation in political bodies 104
Why women's increased political representation is a priority 104
Slow progress in women's political participation, 1990-2000 106
Interventions to increase women's political representation 107
Chapter 9 Combat violence against women 110
Why combating violence against women is a strategic priority 110
Prevalence of violence against women 112
The costs of violence against women 114
Interventions for combating violence against women 116
Chapter 10 Data and indicators for monitoring progress 122
Indicators for the seven strategic priorities 123
Recommendations for data gathering and strengthening statistical
systems 128
Chapter 11 The financial costs of interventions to
achieve gender equality 130
Financing interventions to achieve gender equality in education and to
provide reproductive health services 130
The UN Millennium Project needs assessment 131
Conclusion 137
Chapter 12 Making it happen 138
Commitment and mobilization of change agents 138
Technical capacity to implement change 139
Institutional structures and processes 141
Adequate financial resources 143
Accountability and monitoring systems 143
Country case studies 145
Gender mainstreaming in MDG-based country policy processes 152
Conclusion 154
Appendix 1 Education projections and country
level education data 155
Appendix 2 Reproductive health statistics 178
Appendix 3 Employment statistics 180
Appendix 4 Statistics on women's politicalparticipation 189
Appendix 5 Employment indicators 197
Appendix 6 Summary ofe-discussion facilitated by
ActionAid, United Kingdom 198