By ratifying the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), 188 states have committed to advancing gender equality by confronting “any distinction, exclusion, or restriction made on the basis of sex which [impairs] the enjoyment or exercise by women … of human rights and fundamental freedoms.” Alongside CEDAW, which came into force in 1979, the 1995 Beijing Platform of Action and various United Nations Security Council resolutions provide universally accepted benchmarks. These benchmarks include recognition of women’s right to sexual and reproductive health, the right to be free from gender-based violence, and equal rights for women and men to access and control land—rights that establish a clear framework for our global report on voice and agency. At the same time, accumulating evidence and experience have made clear that tackling poverty and boosting shared prosperity demand that all people have the opportunity to realize their potential and participate fully in all aspects of life. At the individual level, this requires agency—meaning the capacity to make decisions about one’s own life and act on them to achieve a desired outcome, free of violence, retribution, or fear. Agency is sometimes defined as “empowerment.” As an Ecuadorean woman said, “I have free space, to decide for myself, no longer dependent on others. For me, this is a source of pride, my husband asking [my advice]. Now there isn’t this machismo. There is mutual respect. Together we decide.” Similarly, one man in Vietnam commented that “happiness and equality are related. If the husband understands that and is supporting and helping his wife … the happiness of the family will be reinforced.” Full and equal participation also requires that all people have voice—meaning the capacity to speak up and be heard, from homes to houses of parliament, and to shape and share in discussions, discourse, and decisions that affect them.
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Voice and Agency: Empowering women and girls for shared prosperity
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