Discrimination comes in many forms, ranging from racial or religious discrimination to discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation or age, and to bullying at school or at work. Discrimination continuously undermines the efforts to achieve a more just and equitable world, causing pain and suffering for many.
On the 1st of March, we highlight how individuals can become informed about promoting inclusion, compassion, peace and the movement for change. This day helps create a global movement in solidarity to end all forms of discrimination. This year in 2020, UNAIDS wishes to challenge the discrimination faced by women and girls worldwide. UNAIDS aims to raise awareness and take action to promote equality and empowerment for women and girls. Gender inequality and gender norms drive the systematic denial of women's rights and hinder the empowerment of women.
UNAIDS is highlighting seven areas where discrimination against women and girls persists:
1. Equal participation in political life
2. Human rights and laws that empower
3. Economic justice, equal pay for equal work
4. End gender-based violence
5. Access to health care without stigma or barriers, including bodily autonomy and sexual reproductive health and rights.
6. Equal and free access to primary and secondary education
7. climate justice
*At least 117 countries permitted girls to be legally married before the age of 18 years in 2015.
*Discriminatory laws affect an estimated 2.5 billion women and girls around the world.
*Globally, more than one in five women are child brides: on average, more than one in five women are first married by the age of 18 years. This varies significantly across and within regions. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia have the highest rates, at 34% and 29%, respectively.
*Only 88 of 190 countries have laws mandating equal pay for work of equal value.
*Fifty countries have no legislation addressing sexual harassment in the workplace.
*Women earn, on average, 20% less than men
*At least one in three women and girls has experienced physical and/or sexual violence.
*More than 1 billion women lack legal protection against domestic violence.
* One-third of women aged 18–24 years reported being sexually abused during childhood in Kenya (32%), Uganda (35%) and Eswatini (38%).
It is evident that we still have a long way to go until we achieve zero discrimination against girls and women worldwide. However, with your support and the support of UNAIDS, we highlight the areas where discrimination against women and girls persists and raise awareness, calling for change.
For more information on the Zero discrimination day:
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