What I have learned about gender equality Gender equality is definitely a basic human right; however, “gender inequalities remain deeply rooted in every society” (UN, 2011) today. One project that is attempting to improve gender equality is Millennium Development Goal number three, which aims to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women. However, the UN (2011) states that this Millennium Development Goal cannot be achieved if 50% of the world's population is not guaranteed equal rights and opportunities. Hillary Clinton (2014) states that “the role and rights of women, their freedom, equality and dignity are the unfinished business of the 21st century”. Themes that will be explored in this document are the need to empower women, education and reproductive health. My learning about gender equality has been substantial and ultimately drives me to drive positive change for women around the world. I believe it is essential to see women as a fundamental part of the society they live in, as today they make up 50% of the world's population. Millennium Development Goal 3: Promote gender equality and women's empowerment This international development goal is to expand opportunities for women by ensuring they have the rights they are entitled to (World Bank, 2011). The World Bank (2011) states that it is essential to empower women and girls by: improving education, increasing literacy rates, increasing intercessions for early childhood development, increasing women's participation in the workforce, improving women's access to financial resources, ending gender-based violence, promoting women's political rights and ultimately improving reproductive health. In achieving these goals, gender equality can exist by 2015. The need to empower...... middle of document...... 2014 “too many women face too much discrimination and violence” (New York Daily News, 2014). UNIDO (n.d.) states that Millennium Development Goal three cannot be achieved without closing the gap between women and men. To close the gap, we must empower women by providing them with education, accessibility to reproductive health, and ultimately involve men in promoting gender equality for women (WHO, 2014). I very much agree with Hillary Clinton's quote that “human rights are women's rights, and women's rights are human rights” (New York Daily News, 2014). Gender equality is a fundamental human right; however, in 2014 “gender inequalities [still] remain deeply rooted in every society” (UN, 2011). The world has achieved many things so far; however, gender equality “still remains the great unfinished business of the 21st century” (New York Times, 2014).