United Nations Department of Economic and Social AffairsDESA

Data to help measure gender equality

This month, gender equality and data to improve people’s lives will take center stage at UN Headquarters in New York, with the UN Statistical Commission taking place, immediately followed by the Commission on the Status of Women. As it was some 30 years ago since UN DESA initiated the work on gender statistics, we asked Francesca Grum, Chief of the Social and Housing Statistics Section in UN DESA’s Statistics Division, how it all got started and how data plays a role for women’s empowerment.

This month, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will hold its 61st session. How does data play a role for women’s empowerment?

“In order to design and implement fit-for purpose gender policies based on facts, assess progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment and keep governments accountable, relevant, timely and high-quality data and statistics are needed.

Data allow the identification and localization of gaps between women and men, as well as girls and boys, in critical areas of well-being. Data support the collective understanding of the causes and consequences of these gaps and inform the design, implementation and assessment of policies and programmes to address and reduce them.

Without data, evidence-based decision making aiming at empowering women and girls, improving their lives and the lives of their families and communities, would not be possible.”

What are some of the key areas in which you collect statistics to measure gender equality?

“UN DESA’s Statistics Division has been collecting, analyzing and disseminating gender statistics and providing an assessment of progress towards the goal of gender equality and women’s empowerment since the 1980s, including through the publication The World’s Women: Trends and Statistics first published in 1991 and most recently in 2015.

The World’s Women publications have been published every 5 years presenting a statistical analysis of the situation of women in comparison to men and highlighting gender gaps in a broad range of areas of concern including poverty, health, education, work, power and decision making, violence, environment and population/family.

The Statistics Division, in collaboration with specialized agencies, also maintains the Minimum Set of Gender Indicators data portal, agreed by the United Nations Statistical Commission in 2011 as a basic set of indicators for national production and international compilation of gender statistics. It presents trend data for more than 60 indicators on women’s economic empowerment; education; health; public life and decision-making; and human rights and it includes specific indicators on social norms and discriminatory laws.”

You also track data on for example violence against women. How is this work making a difference to improve women’s lives?

“Violence against women violates the most basic human rights, impedes the achievement of gender equality and is an obstacle to overall development. It is widely recognized as a form of discrimination against women reflecting the pervasive imbalance of power between women and men. Women across the world, regardless of income, age or education, are subject to many forms of violence including physical, sexual, psychological and economic violence. The latest global estimates show that one in every three women has experienced physical or sexual violence at some point in her lifetime.

In order to address and prevent violence against women with effective policies, data are needed to assess the magnitude of the phenomena and understand its causes and consequences.

The Statistics Division has been working for several years on the methodological aspects of measuring violence and has produced in 2013 a set of guidelines to produce statistics from household surveys. A dedicated data portal with the latest national data on the prevalence of different forms of violence against women is also available on the Division website.

The Division is also working closely with national statistical offices and other stakeholders to ensure countries develop the technical skills needed to collect reliable data for the production of statistics on violence against women, according to agreed international standards and in line with their national context and data needs.”

How will data help ensure that we achieve the SDGs including goal 5 on gender equality?

“The need for quality, accessible, timely and reliable disaggregated data for the measurement of progress towards the SDGs and to ensure that no one is left behind is widely recognized, including in the General Assembly resolution A/RES/70/1.

Data are needed to identify and quantify gender issues, highlight population sub-groups including vulnerable groups and those with special needs, and allow the monitoring of progress towards specific targets. Without data, the development of programmes and interventions and the assessment of their effectiveness would not be possible. Data is key to evidence-based decision-making and monitoring.”

This year, UN DESA is celebrating seven decades supporting UN Member States in the area of economic, social and sustainable development. Perhaps not that many people know this, but the work on gender statistics was initiated in DESA some 30 years ago. Can you share with our readers how it all got started?

“The Statistics Division’s work programme on gender statistics was initiated in the early 1980s, mid-way into the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace (1976-1985) and in response to the call for more statistics on the status of women. International Women conferences were the initial driving force for the work of the division in this area as they created a demand for statistics to monitor the conferences outcomes, set the political agenda for action and mobilize resources.

Of particular relevance to the development of our programme on gender statistics is the outcome document of the 4th UN World Conference on Women (Beijing, 1995), known as the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) that recognized the importance of appropriate data for understanding gender gaps, designing policies and assessing progress towards the goal of gender equality, and requested the collection, compilation, analysis and presentation of statistics reflecting problems, issues and questions related to women and men in society, disaggregated by sex and age.

Since then, the Statistics Division’s programme on gender statistics has centered on improving the capacity of countries to collect, disseminate and use reliable statistics and indicators to assess the relative situation of women and men in gender-sensitive, policy-relevant areas. The Programme has focused on: (a) developing and promoting methodological guidelines and addressing emerging issues of gender concern, including on violence against women, asset ownership and entrepreneurship and time use; (b) providing technical assistance and training to strengthen national capacity for the production, dissemination and use of gender relevant statistics; (c) compiling gender statistics and facilitating access to data; and (d) improving coherence among existing initiatives on gender statistics through international coordination.

The success of the programme has given the Statistics Division an unparalleled recognition in the field of gender statistics, resulting in strong partnerships with counterpart agencies, coordinated support for the development of gender statistics and a renewed and strengthened mandate from the United Nations Statistical Commission. In 2011, the Commission established the Global Gender Statistics Programme, coordinated by the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on Gender Statistics (IAEG-GS) and implemented by UN DESA’s Statistics Division and key stakeholders.”

For more information: UN DESA’s Statistics Division: Gender statistics

Celebrating seven decades supporting UN Member States

This year, UN DESA will celebrate seven decades of serving UN Member States and the international community in their efforts to promote economic, social and sustainable development around the globe. We spoke with Lenni Montiel, UN DESA’s Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development, about this milestone and upcoming celebrations.

This year, UN DESA will celebrate its 70th anniversary. Can you describe the events that are planned for this anniversary?

“2017 is a very special year for UN DESA.

It will serve to highlight and reflect upon seven decades of UN DESA working with governments and other development partners to find concrete solutions to economic, social and development challenges.

Last year we established the UN DESA History Initiative to ensure the widest possible dissemination of information to relevant audiences about UN DESA, about what UN DESA does today and what UN DESA has achieved over the past seven decades. This reflection is also crucial for the future of UN DESA.

We want to enhance the way the role of UN DESA is understood. We want to make visible our contributions to the inter-governmental processes, to the policy and analytical work as well as to capacity development efforts we carry out. As we have had little time for preparations and no resources available for the anniversary celebrations, we will make this information available first and foremost through the UN DESA website and through our social media channels.

Starting in February, we will post short stories about our work. This will include brief analytical papers about relevant processes, landmark events and publications in the history of UN DESA.

We will also share personal accounts from staff members; interviews with former and current UN DESA staff as well as photographs. We are also planning a major event in July. But we will share details about this later on.

It is very important to be aware that later this year, we will launch the World Economic and Social Survey (WESS) that UN DESA publishes every year. In 2017 the WESS will provide an overview of the substance of 70 years of WESS and the World Economic and Social Prospects (WESP). This will be a substantive and analytical effort to commemorate the 70 years of UN DESA.

A similar analysis, but simpler in terms of depth and details, is planned also on the Reports on the World Social Situation (RWSS).

There will be lots of activities. Keep your eyes open for details. Follow UN DESA on Facebook and Twitter for updates.”

Role of oceans and seas for our future

In June 2017, the international community will come together at the Ocean Conference to find ways to conserve and protect our oceans and seas for future generations. Why are they so crucial for our survival? We asked expert Dr. Marjo Vierros, who works as a consultant for UN DESA on issues related to Sustainable Development Goal 14. She is also the Director of Coastal Policy and Humanities Research, which undertakes interdisciplinary research on priority oceans issues.

What is the state of oceans and seas around the world today?

“Over the past decades human activities in the oceans have increased exponentially and this has had serious negative consequences on the state of the oceans. Scientists are seeing greater change, happening faster, with more rapid declines in ocean health than had been previously anticipated. Today we live in the age of a changing climate, and no part of the ocean is unaffected by human influence. Some areas, particularly near large population centres are strongly impacted by multiple pressures.

The threats facing the oceans are many and include unsustainable and destructive fishing practices, illegal and unreported fishing, pollution from both land-based and ship-based sources, habitat destruction, introduction of invasive species, ocean noise, ship strikes, mining of minerals and extraction of oil and gas. These adverse impacts act cumulatively with global impacts from ocean acidification, ocean warming, shifting currents, reduced mixing and decreasing oxygen levels. While marine ecosystems and species might be able to withstand one type or intensity of impact, they are much more severely affected by a combination of impacts. The total impact can often be greater than the sum of its parts. The declining health of the ocean has dire consequences for people, their livelihoods and entire economies, with the poorest communities that rely on ocean resources often being the most impacted.

Cumulative impacts cannot effectively be managed individually and in isolation. Multiple stressors call for integrated management, which means that we need to urgently develop a more holistic approach to ocean governance. The sectoral management of old will not be enough to address the escalating degradation of the oceans. The need to understand and manage the interactions and cumulative effects of multiple stressors has been identified as one of the most important questions in marine ecology today.”

Why are oceans crucial for our survival?

“Two thirds of the Earth’s surface is ocean, and the oceans not only provide home to an enormous wealth plants and animals, from the largest animal in the world (the blue whales) to microscopic bacteria and viruses, but they also support life on Earth. Oceans produce half the oxygen we breathe, absorb about 95% of the sun’s radiation, and are by far the largest carbon sink in the world. So even if you happen to live far away from the coast, you still depend on the oceans for your survival.

Fish from the oceans is a major source of animal protein for a large portion of the world’s population. This is particularly true in developing countries and Small Island Developing States, where fisheries, particularly small-scale fisheries, is an important component of food security.

And because we know so little about the oceans, with vast remote areas like the deep sea still poorly explored, the potential for discovery of new species is vast. We also know very little about the microbial ocean, though it has been estimated that 95% of ocean life by weight is microscopic. All this biological diversity has proven to be an important source of novel genes and natural products with potential applications for the development of pharmaceuticals, enzymes, cosmetics and other products. Several anti-cancer and other medications, as well as the HIV drug AZT were originally sourced from marine organisms. So it is possible that the next life-saving drug will come from the sea, too. We don’t want to destroy that biodiversity before we even discover it.

And finally, the oceans have values that are intangible, but no less crucial for humans. By this I mean aesthetic, spiritual and recreational values, for example. The oceans inspire us and make us happier. You only have to look at kids playing on the beach or an artist painting a stormy sea to know that the values provided by the oceans go beyond just our survival to enriching and nourishing our lives.”

How do they contribute to the global economy?

“I would argue that oceans are a key component of sustainable development.  Approximately 80 per cent of the volume of world trade is carried by sea, meaning that international shipping and ports are an essential component of global supply-chains. Submarine cables crossing the ocean floor carry 90 per cent of our electronic communications. Marine fisheries contribute more than US$270 billion to global GDP. Fisheries are also major component of the economies of many coastal and island countries, and a provider of livelihoods for the 300 million people who work in the sector. Approximately 3 billion people globally rely on fish as an important source of animal protein, essential micronutrients and omega-3 fatty acids. Other industries, such as oceans-related tourism, and, increasingly, aquaculture are also important for many countries’ economies.

There is also a potential for countries to benefit from many new oceans-related industries. For example, ocean energy, such as offshore wind, wave, ocean thermal conversion and tidal power has the potential to increasingly provide us with a renewable energy in the future.  This is particularly important for Small Island Developing States, which are currently very dependent on fuel imports. The rich biological diversity in the oceans, and the potential for discovery of new, commercially-important compounds to be used in medicines and other products, means that bioprospecting and biotechnology could become an important part of a many countries’ sustainable ocean economies. With capacity building, technology transfer and research collaborations, developing countries could become active participants in this sector, giving them options that are more environmentally and socially sustainable than deep-sea mining, for example.

All these ecosystem services that the oceans provide humankind have considerable economic value. While there is much debate about valuation methods and exact figures, marine ecosystem services have been found to be on the order of trillions of US dollars annually. The economic value of mangroves globally for coastal protection, fisheries, tourism and other human uses are of the order of US$186 million each year. And the value of coral reefs to humankind has been estimated to be between US$130,000 and $1.2 million per hectare, per year. These calculations take into account the services provided by coral reefs in relation to food, raw materials, ornamental resources, climate regulation, moderation of extreme events, waste treatment, water purification, biological control, cultural services (including tourism), and maintenance of genetic diversity. Understanding the magnitude of the value of these ecosystem services helps us make the case for their conservation.”

How will Sustainable Development Goal 14 help address current challenges?

“We know that the oceans are vital for our survival, and that they are facing multiple and rapidly accelerating human pressures that are hugely reducing ocean health, resilience and ability to support human lives and livelihoods. The oceans are nearing the limit of their carrying capacity, if they haven’t reached it already. Yet, the oceans have often been ignored in international policy, and in the public perception they are commonly “out of sight and out of mind”.

So SDG 14, with its set of comprehensive and interlinked targets, provides an opportunity to put a spotlight on the oceans, and to accelerate the actions that need to be taken to restore and maintain their resilience. Trying to prioritize these actions will also provide us with an opportunity to have a global dialogue about what we can collectively do to move towards a more sustainable life. What solutions have worked and could be scaled up? What can different cultures and knowledge systems teach us about intergenerational responsibility and stewardship for ocean resources? How can developing countries build capacities to fully benefit from sustainable ocean economies? These are some of the questions that SDG 14 will force us to examine, and perhaps together we can come up with a roadmap for action that can reverse the current trend of biodiversity loss in the oceans. Inaction is much more costly than action and can lead to greater and likely irreversible losses.”

What do you hope the upcoming UN Oceans Conference in June 2017 will accomplish?

“Achieving SDG 14 and its targets will require collective, global and urgent action. We need to mobilize and learn from each other’s experiences, from the latest science and the wisdom of traditional knowledge. We need to link scales in ocean conservation from local community-based management to large-scale conservation in marine areas beyond national jurisdiction. We need to build trust amongst all ocean stakeholders, which essentially encompasses all of humanity, and form partnerships that include governments, civil society, scientists, Indigenous Peoples and coastal communities. We need to mobilize a substantial amount of funding that is sustainable in the long term. We also need to pay close attention to equity and make sure we empower those whose voices are not always heard in intergovernmental processes. I hope that the UN Oceans Conference in June 2017 will help us get started with all of these things, and that its focus on strengthening and building the partnerships will help us develop a common vision for a way forward. I also hope that there will be concrete commitments from governments towards ocean conservation. No country of group can do this alone, but if we manage to collaborate effectively and inclusively we can make progress. We already have tools and methodologies for ocean conservation, and can learn more as we apply them. We now we need strong leadership and commitment to move towards a more sustainable relationship with the oceans.”

For more information:

United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14