Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Despite high educational attainment levels for women, the Gender Inequality Index (2019) and Global Gender Gap Report (2020) rank Sri Lanka 71/189 and 102/153 respectively, owing to persistently low female political representation and labour force participation. Female-headed households, which account for roughly 25.8% of households in the country, tend to experience higher levels of poverty and marginalisation. In addition, the country faces a broader culture of sexual and gender-based violence, the structural, cultural and social roots of which have yet to be addressed.
5.1End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
5.2Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation
5.4Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate
5.5Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life
5.6Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences
5.aUndertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources, as well as access to ownership and control over land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources, in accordance with national laws
5.cAdopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels
