Achieving gender equality

According to Paragraph 23 of the 'Policy Document for the Integration of a Sustainable Development Perspective into the Processes of the World Heritage Convention' (World Heritage Sustainable Development Policy), "Gender equality is one of UNESCO’s two global priorities. The UNESCO Priority Gender Equality Action Plan (2014-2021), moreover, requires Member States and the governing bodies of UNESCO regulatory instruments “to establish gender-sensitive, gender-responsive and gender-transformative policies and practices in the field of heritage”.

In addition, achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls is essential for achieving sustainable development, and is one of the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals.

The World Heritage Sustainable Development Policy also states that States Parties should:

“Ensure respect for gender equality throughout the full cycle of World Heritage processes, particularly in the preparation and content of nomination dossiers;

“Ensure social and economic opportunities for both women and men in and around World Heritage properties;

“Ensure equal and respectful consultation, full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership and representation of both women and men within activities for the conservation and management of World Heritage properties;

“When or where relevant, ensure that gender-rooted traditional practices within World Heritage properties, for example in relation to access or participation in management mechanisms, have received the full consent of all groups within the local communities through transparent consultation processes that fully respects gender equality.”

Source(s):

World Heritage Sustainable Development Policy  

The UNESCO Priority Gender Equality Action Plan (2014-2021)