The United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995 established gender equality as a basic principle in development cooperation. Gender equality refers to equality of opportunity, rights, distribution of resources and benefits, responsibilities for women and men in private and public life and in the value accorded to male and female characteristics. Promotion of gender equality is not only concerned with women’s issues, but also covers broader actions to be taken by both women and men. An essential requirement for gender equality is that women should participate in decision-making and political processes on an equal footing with men. Gender disparities.
