Gender equality and women's empowerment

Gender equality and women's empowerment play a vital role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined by the United Nations. Acknowledging the significance of SDG 5, which explicitly targets gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, it's worth noting that these elements are fundamentally tied to all 17 goals. Each goal, whether it pertains to poverty eradication, quality education, or climate action, is directly or indirectly affected by gender dynamics. Gender inequality inhibits economic growth (SDG 8) by depriving economies of the full potential of half its population, thereby exacerbating poverty (SDG 1) and hunger (SDG 2). Additionally, gender-based discrimination can limit access to quality education (SDG 4) and decent work (SDG 8) for women and girls, further perpetuating inequality. In health matters, gender roles and stereotypes often result in disparities in healthcare access and outcomes (SDG 3). With respect to environmental sustainability (SDGs 13, 14, and 15), women, particularly those in rural areas, bear the brunt of climate change impacts, but they also hold unique knowledge and skills crucial for mitigation and adaptation strategies. Likewise, women's underrepresentation in decision-making roles limits their influence on peace and justice (SDG 16) and partnerships for goals (SDG 17). Thus, achieving gender equality isn't only about justice for women and girls, but also about progress on every SDG. Women's empowerment creates a multiplier effect that boosts economic growth and promotes sustainable development, thereby setting a direct path towards achieving the SDGs. Encouragingly, concerted efforts worldwide are recognizing and amplifying women's roles in society, placing gender equality and women's empowerment at the heart of the SDGs. Such advancements signify a positive stride towards a balanced and equitable world.

Elsevier,

Hand Clinics, Volume 39, Issue 1, 2023, Pages 65-72

This chapter advances Goals 5 and 10 by addressing ways we can support the needs of female hand surgeons.
Millions of children globally cannot attend school because they live on less than $1.90 a day. The article explores the relationship between SDGs 1 and 4.
This study reveals a high magnitude of poor Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among HIV-positive women. Therefore, as HRQoL domains are comprehensive indicators of living status, healthcare service providers should be dedicated to screening and supporting HIV-positive women with poor HRQoL.
Elsevier,

Genomic Data Sharing,  Case Studies, Challenges, and Opportunities for Precision Medicine, 2023, Pages 71-90

 

The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) is an international standards development organization focused on advancing human health and medicine through genomic data sharing and interoperability. Founded in 2013, the organization has evolved over time and has adapted to unexpected challenges. Three themes have emerged as critical to the organization's success: (1) community needs must drive development; (2) agility is necessary to create global equity and opportunity; (3) developing an idea into a widely adopted standard requires multiple levels of consensus furthering SDG3.
FGM is a violation of human rights. FGM affects girls'/women’s physical and psychological health.
This Article supports SDGs 3 and 5, focusing on assessing cardiovascular mortality risk in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, compared with normal blood pressure during pregnancy.
Elsevier,

Journal of Climate Change and Health, Volume 9, 1 January 2023

This article advances SDG # 3, 5, 7, 10, 11, and 13 by measuring the strong relationship between air pollution and adverse pregnancy outcomes including low birth weight and preterm birth. It shows that fossil-fuel based pollution has serious health consequences, mitigation of which could have immediate health benefits, particularly in high-pollution environments. T
Elsevier,

Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America, Volume 32, Issue 1, 2023, Pages 221-232

This chapter advances Goals 5 and 10 by discussing the role physicians can play in improving clinical trial enrollment and retention among underrepresented groups.
Elsevier,

Clinical Imaging, Volume 95, March 2023, Pages 62-64

This Article supports SDGs 3, 5 and 9 by outlining how, in the current legal landscape, to reduce the collection and documentation of reproductive health information in nuclear medicine in light of the SCOTUS decision on Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization that overturned a 49-year-old federal recognition of abortion rights.
Abortion access is of utmost importance to community health. It is important to elicit data to support medical education in this topic.

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