SDG 5 targets: achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls
Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) is one of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Its aim is to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls”. The goal recognises that discrimination, violence and unequal access to opportunities limit people’s rights and hold back social and economic progress.
SDG 5 is supported by nine targets. The first six set out changes to achieve by 2030, while the final three focus on the laws, policies and resources needed to make progress. Together, they address discrimination, violence, unpaid care, leadership, reproductive rights, economic resources and technology.
The six main SDG 5 targets
Target 5.1: End discrimination
Target 5.1 calls for an end to all forms of discrimination against women and girls everywhere. This includes discrimination in laws and policies, as well as unequal treatment in everyday life, education, employment, healthcare and public services.
Target 5.2: End violence and exploitation
Target 5.2 seeks to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in public and private settings. It specifically includes human trafficking, sexual exploitation and other forms of exploitation, as well as violence by intimate partners.
Target 5.3: End harmful practices
Target 5.3 aims to eliminate harmful practices such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation. These practices can have serious and lasting effects on health, education, safety and personal autonomy.
Target 5.4: Recognise and value unpaid care work
Target 5.4 recognises the importance of unpaid care and domestic work. It calls for this work to be valued through public services, infrastructure and social protection policies, and for responsibility to be shared more fairly within households and families. Access to affordable childcare and care for older people can help make this possible.
Target 5.5: Ensure equal participation and leadership
Target 5.5 aims to ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at every level of decision-making. This includes political institutions, workplaces and other areas of public life.
Target 5.6: Ensure access to sexual and reproductive health and rights
Target 5.6 calls for universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. These rights are to be addressed in line with internationally agreed frameworks, including the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action.
The three means of implementation
Target 5.a: Equal rights to economic resources
Target 5.a calls for reforms that give women equal rights to economic resources, including access to land and other forms of property, financial services, inheritance and natural resources. It also highlights the importance of national laws that support these rights.
Target 5.b: Use technology to empower women
Target 5.b aims to enhance the use of enabling technology, particularly information and communications technology, to promote women’s empowerment. This includes improving access to digital tools, skills and opportunities.
Target 5.c: Adopt and strengthen effective policies and laws
Target 5.c calls on countries to adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation to promote gender equality and empower all women and girls. This includes tracking public resources and making sure that commitments are backed by practical action.
Why the targets matter
The targets are closely connected. For example, ending discrimination can improve access to education and employment, while fairer sharing of unpaid care can give women more time to study, work or take part in public life. Strong laws and services can help prevent violence, protect rights and make opportunities more equal.
Progress is measured using indicators, such as the prevalence of violence, the proportion of women in leadership positions and whether legal frameworks support gender equality. Measurement helps governments and organisations identify gaps and assess whether their policies are making a difference.
Turning commitments into progress
SDG 5 sets a global direction, but progress depends on action at every level. Governments can review discriminatory laws, fund essential services and collect reliable data. Employers and institutions can improve equal access to work and leadership. Communities and individuals can challenge harmful stereotypes and support the fair sharing of care responsibilities.
Achieving the SDG 5 targets is not only a matter of fairness. It is fundamental to human rights and to building safer, healthier and more inclusive societies. The targets provide a shared framework for turning that principle into measurable action.
Understanding SDG 5: Key Targets and Their Impact on Gender Equality
- What is SDG 5, and what does it aim to achieve?
- What are the six main targets of SDG 5?
- How does SDG 5 address violence against women and girls?
- What does SDG 5 say about unpaid care and domestic work?
- How does SDG 5 promote women’s participation and leadership?
- How is progress towards the SDG 5 targets measured?
What is SDG 5, and what does it aim to achieve?
SDG 5 is the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal focused on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. It aims to end discrimination, violence and harmful practices, ensure equal opportunities for leadership and participation, and improve access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. Its targets also address unpaid care work, women’s economic rights and the use of technology to support empowerment.
What are the six main targets of SDG 5?
The six main targets of SDG 5 are to end discrimination against women and girls; eliminate violence, including trafficking and exploitation; end harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation; recognise and value unpaid care and domestic work; ensure women’s full participation and equal opportunities for leadership; and guarantee universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. Together, these targets address key barriers to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
How does SDG 5 address violence against women and girls?
SDG 5 addresses violence against women and girls through Target 5.2, which calls for the elimination of all forms of violence in both public and private settings, including trafficking, sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse. Target 5.3 also seeks to end harmful practices such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation. Together, these targets encourage governments to strengthen laws, protection services and prevention efforts so that women and girls can live free from violence and harm.
What does SDG 5 say about unpaid care and domestic work?
SDG 5 addresses unpaid care and domestic work through Target 5.4, which calls for this work to be recognised and valued. It encourages countries to provide public services, infrastructure and social protection, and to promote shared responsibility within households and families. The aim is to reduce the unequal burden of unpaid care—often carried by women and girls—and support their full participation in education, employment and public life.
How does SDG 5 promote women’s participation and leadership?
SDG 5 promotes women’s participation and leadership through Target 5.5, which calls for women’s full and effective involvement and equal opportunities to lead at every level of decision-making. This covers political representation, leadership in business and public institutions, and participation in community life. The goal also supports this target by addressing barriers such as discrimination, violence and unequal access to economic resources, helping create conditions in which women and girls can have their voices heard and contribute equally.
How is progress towards the SDG 5 targets measured?
Progress towards the SDG 5 targets is measured using a set of global indicators agreed by the United Nations, alongside national data and reporting. These indicators track issues such as violence against women and girls, child marriage, women’s representation in leadership, unpaid care work, access to sexual and reproductive health services, and legal protections for equality. Countries collect and report relevant statistics, which can then be compared over time to identify progress and gaps. The quality and availability of data vary, so improving data collection—while protecting people’s privacy—is also an important part of monitoring SDG 5.