"UNESCO believes that all forms of discrimination on the basis of gender are violations of human rights, and a significant barrier to peace, sustainable development and the achievement of all internationally recognized development goals.”

Women’s empowerment is about women taking control over their lives: setting their own agendas, gaining skills, building self-confidence, solving problems and developing self-reliance. Although only individuals can empower themselves, processes that nurture the empowerment of individuals or groups can be supported by others.

Gender equality between women and men exists when both genders are able to share equally in the distribution of power and knowledge and have equal opportunities, rights and obligations.