See all 17 Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs

What is SDG 5 about?

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

SDG 5 calls for an end to all forms of discrimination against women and girls everywhere. By denying women equal rights we deny half the population a chance to live life to its fullest. If women enjoy political, economic and social equality, our societies and businesses will benefit. This goal includes targets that end violence and the exploitation of women and girls, value unpaid care and promote shared domestic responsibilities and access to reproductive health and rights.

What can a business do to influence SDG 5?

In a business context, targets for SDG 5 relate to leadership and decision-making, equal rights to economic resources, property ownership and financial services and equal pay and benefits for all employees, regardless of gender.

How to make progress with SDG 5

Offer equal pay for work of equal value.
Strive to pay a living wage to all.
Offer flexible working conditions.
Support access to childcare.
Introduce a zero-tolerance policy for all forms of violence at work, including verbal or physical abuse and sexual harassment.
Support business relationships with women-owned enterprises, including small businesses and women entrepreneurs.

How businesses can benefit

Attract and retain talent
Improve your reputation

Examples

National Australian Bank (NAB) prioritises SDG 5. In 2020, NAB achieved 50% overall female representation and 36% at an executive level. NAB has also announced it is reducing its gender pay gap, reporting that it currently sits below the industry average.

Australian telecom company Telstra funds community initiatives to support SDG 5. The company has provided scholarships for women and Indigenous Australians studying STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and given thousands of smartphones to women affected by domestic violence.

SDG 5 Gender equality