Sustainable Development Goal 5 of the United Nations is Gender Equality.

Gender Equality is the state in which access to rights or opportunities is unaffected by

gender. According to the United Nations, this goal is aimed at empowering women and

promoting gender equality in the social, economic and political aspects of life. With the

“leave no one behind" approach focusing on identifying not only who is left behind but

also the ways in which marginalization and exclusion are experienced, the organization

is making slow but very steady progress.

In regards to poverty, more women than men have been discovered to be living in

poverty. This could possibly be to the unpaid domestic work the women usually take on

denying them the time to horn their skills thus fewer opportunities. In my opinion, with

the deep rooted knowledge of women as nothing more than good housekeepers and

very submissive ones at that, fewer opportunities to stray off this path are prevented

with anything other than this being considered unconventional especially in the rural

areas. Opening of more groups to advocate for the scholarly and even vocational

training with a steady funding system would be a good place to start in the reduction

and eventually eradication of high poverty levels among women.

According to the report regarding Gender Equality by the United Nations, food insecurity

affects more women than men. Apparently this is because the females always end

consuming less nutritious food or even less quantities of food in a bid to support their

families. Of course this is not an unfamiliar concept to me having seen it occur

countless times in my very own society with the woman being expected to somehow

conjure an edible and delicious meal using limited resources and barely enough money

to purchase ingredients. In case the quantity fails to suffice for these often large

families, it is always the woman who is expected to give up her quota.

Good health and wellbeing is obviously a crucial issue when it comes to women. When

you consider issues like pregnancy and child birth that render women completely and

utterly vulnerable, you come to the conclusion that well equipped and fully staffed health

centers are critically needed. However these still remain a myth especially in rural areas

with nearly 300,000 women dying due to complications related to childbirth in just 2017

alone. Women in urban areas are of course most times not privy to these conditions

with the ones in rural areas being left to fend for themselves often resorting to the

traditional methods. These methods are of course often times quite unsanitary and a

humongous risk to both the lives of mother and child especially with diseases such as

HIV/AIDs running a vendetta against mankind.

Illiteracy among females in poor households is definitely higher than that of the boys.

With poverty acting as a reinforcement to long held misconceptions against an educated

woman especially in rural areas regarding their behavior often terming them as having

abominably bad behavior and inability to perform their motherly and wifely duties. Most

Fathers or parents end up educating the boys in fear of raising girls who may think

themselves superior to their husbands and thus allowing them to have complete control

over their daughter's choice of partner and more life choices. This of course endsaffecting women in other areas such as job opportunities and the ability to fend for

themselves.

Women and girls shoulder the heaviest burden in collecting water for domestic use.

With men supposedly providing essentials such as food and shelter, they are not

expected to deal with "measly" tasks such as fetching water. However, this is definitely

no simple task with 785 people not having lived with basic drinking water service in

2017. Thus the women most times end up walking for miles on roads ridden with

dangers ranging from attacks from wild animals to rape, murder, kidnap and what not.

The situation becomes even more heartbreaking when you imagine women of such a

slight build bearing those heavy burdens for long distances.

Three quarters of human trafficking victims are females. With women being under

represented in global, regional and even national government institutions, the ability to

overtake these inhumane activities is greatly hindered. Furthermore situations of

poverty and limited job opportunities leave these women vulnerable to the enticing

offers presented by the lucrative jobs and wages that are advertised. Thus in hopes of

carving out better futures for themselves and their families, these women are lured in

with promises that often land them in dismal conditions. And with legitimate routes to

proper jobs being expensive, the women opt for the faster and cheaper modes often

driving them right into the middle of these human trafficking rings.

Women face a multitude of problems that have put the world a long way from the proper

Gender equality that we seek. Here I have only hinted at them, very slightly. However,

with efforts no matter how small they are bringing on change, there's hope that the goal

may be achieved yet.

By Munyonjo Monique Maritah

Sustainable development Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities

The key question of perspective is levied on one, “sustainability.” Does the ‘system’

provide a flexible place of adaptation, growth, and even a contingency in case

overall change is required within that very pattern hold, yet with utmost respect for

exhausible units of the environment? In light of the human nature; curiosity,

versatility as well as ambitious and intentful pursuits.

Does it possess principles that provide a fail-safe resolve, in the event that changes

in particular methods driven by the motive and spirit that birthed this goals, or even

counter-action, may and can occur. The transitions in efect therefore must broaden

and propel the vision, not as a limit of what can be invented intellectually, but as a

foundation of environmentally friendly innovations and institutions.

The perfect city, is the advancing city, but projecting a stability in economy,

sociality, humanity and the foresight of upcoming generations among others. The

timely and intuitive variable and yet proof of this very stability is knowledge, and

advancements there in. The Human mind is growing, not in mass, I cannot tell, but

in self-discovery and the consequent realization and principled implementation of

what is possible and the efects of those decisions, on ourselves, and the planet we

call home. Earth, a beautifully crafted self-sustaining system that has propelled the

most intellectually gifted beings on its surface. It, no matter how far we learn must

retain the capability to do so for upcoming generations. The responsibility for us

therefore as its primary caretakers is to judge that sacred keep, not as limit for

industry and slow death, but as a perfect foundation for the cities and communities

we choose to build. The responsibility of every creature on the planet is to be a

creature of that planet! Even when we land exploration on Mars and beyond this

galaxy, this will always be home, and the foundation of whatever home we choose

to build. That alone is life, and life in deed!

The Root of Life

The rate at which our environment is degrading is a alarming. The efforts we are putting in are not enough. Man is solely responsible for whatever consequences that are to come .The acts of man that lead to this degradation include;

Overpopulation. The human population is estimated to increase at a rate of 1.05% a year.This puts pressure on existing resource and hence are depleted fast.With time we have run out of space to build homes and land to grow enough food to feed us.We need to be very deliberate on how we procreate and whether we can sustain that number of family members .Proper planing is the way to go.

pollution. Air and water pollution are not new terms.we have taken part in this one way or another and the effect of this can be clearly seen. Polluted water causes disease to us all same to polluted air .We are burning fossil fuels and the ozone layer gets worse day by day .Why not seek alternative sources of fuel? Why not keep our water sources clean and find Proper places to dump our garbage?

Deforestation. As of today the remaining land under forest cover is 4.06 Billions hectares while that undisturb by man is 1.11 Billion heaters .As had been quoted before, time and again trees are the lungs of the earth.We are cutting down trees for timber ,for charcoal and many more reasons. There is need to use systematically felling of these trees for of we cut them all down,what will remain to be the lungs of the earth? Forest fires are also an issue ,remember what happened to the Amazon forest?It's our collective responsibility to conserve this environment.We don't have another earth,sure scientists are contemplating the idea of Mars being another place for man to live ,but If we cannot take care of this home how will we be able to take care of another?

We shouldn't be naive enough to cut the hand that feeds us and expect to continue living. Let's take care of our home together. Let us be intentional and mature about this .

THE INDISPENSABLE RECIPE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

By Garang Kuot Lester

Sustainable Development is a kind of self improvement and growth by both the states and individuals

from a lower level to a more advanced one. Its an improvement that is able to last for a considerable

period of time. Its also one that is cognizant and considerate of both the needs of the present and those

of the future generations. Its therefore the use of available resources to beter the livelihood of the

present generation without compromising the ability of the future generations to also beter

themselves.

There are various ingredients that are needed for the perfect achievement of sustainable development.

These tools are interlinked, in a way that an absence of one makes it extremely hard if not impossible

for states to atain sustainable development.

One of the various fundamental recipes for a sustained growth is peace and security. Even in countries

that are naturally endowed with resources–both mineral and human resources, it has proven to be

extremely hard to develop due to lack of peaceful and secure environments for people to thrive and

beter themselves.

Goal 16 of the global goals of sustainable development is about Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. It

is a goal with an aim of achieving sustainable development by ensuring that institutions are

strengthened to deliver justice and ultimately achieve global peace and security.

The fundamental premise for this ambitious goal, along with it targets is on; 1) that a peaceful society is

able to utilize it’s available resources–both mineral resources and other resources to improve itself. 2)

that peace enables easy access to education and healthcare which are imperative for the empowerment

of a robust human resource. And 3) is that peace and security make diplomatic partnerships with other

states simple, for example in the area of trade and Foreign Direct Investments(FDIs).

Countries like South Sudan, DRC, Sudan, CAR and Somalia among others would leverage their abundant

natural resource baskets to atain development if it was not for the unstable and insecure political

atmospheres. South Sudan and DRC for example have some of the world’s largest oil and gold reserves

respectively. But the continued outbreaks of conficts and generally lack of peaceful environments

hinder the use of these resources for benefts and the resources continue to go to waste without

notable strides towards development.

To that efect, its therefore important that Nations priorities the preservation of peace and security to

enable developmental activities take place. Peace is threatened by unstable political environments

characterized by tyranny, gross human rights violations, rebellions and terrorism among others. To

check these and ensure adequate peace, states need to ensure democratic dealings, strengthening of

institutions like the; police, public prosecution and the entire justice systems. This will ensure that

perpetrators of violent and rebellious activities are brought to book, crimes are investigated and justice

brought to victims.

Conclusively, a society with strong institutions that ensure adequate security is provided to people and

their property is the one that, a) encourages it’s people to venture into numerous income generating

activities like agriculture, agri;business, trade and investment. And b), its the one which is able to attract FDIs—these come with employment opportunities for the populace. Employment being ideal for

sustainable growth, there can be not beter recipe for development than that.

The Writer is an LLB Student at Nkumba University, Entebbe.

@garang_lester For Twiter.

Garang Lester On Facebook.

Email: garanglester8@gmail.com

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htp://garanglester.wordpress.com

New Dawn; dissolving Racial Disparities

Following the unparalleled evolution through the great renaissance and the inception of civilization, the white folks developed an ego too soon and a condescending approach to the seemingly undeveloped Africans, inhabiting what has for long been regarded as the dark continent. The white folks permeated through the boarders of Africa, as if traversing in adventure, to explore a land that was vested with beauty, multicultural diversity and engrossed in a community setting. They gaped at a civilization developed and harnessed by human beings that possessed, are possessing and will forever possess a skin complexion much different from theirs.

It so happened that by the time they discovered a continent, inhabited by humans less concerned by their existence, had amassed a civilization that was far more developed compared to the African Traditional Societal setting. They only banked on an organized religious setting of Catholicism and Anglicanism that essentially humbled, the occasionally harsh and hostile nature of Africans such as the Zulu in South Africa, and the Masai in Turkana land. Having ensured that Africans were ensconced in Religion, they introduced the GUN, that far more than ever, changed the course of conquest and political hegemony perpetuated by the White supremacists. White dominancy juxtaposed with the Islamic authoritative urge, then, gave birth to the most excruciating racial cancers the world has ever known, slavery.

At the barrel of the gun; a bow and arrow, spear and shield could not guarantee ultimate protection or Defence. Strong African lads were chained, caned and shipped to diaspora basically for odd jobs, that whites were to proud to do. Surely, knowledge is power. The British having pioneered the great industrial revolution in the 17th Century, took advantage of cheap labor in Africa to accelerate the production capacity of their factories, repatriated profits and grew their economies. The knowledge of the gun, brought Africa to its knees, when they least expected it. The thousands of Africans shipped to Latin America though the Door of no return in Ghana and soon found their way to the United States of America, that has never colonized any African country, but used, and oppressed slaves of African origin. A land that was never designed for their existence.

They inextricably contributed to the building of the large columned buildings around the 51 states(Washington DC inclusive), including one of the most protected, highly facilitated and museum like home, the White House. And yet, in those walls, offices and great government premises like Capitol Hill, a policy that favored black existence in USA was neither crafted nor drafted.

George Floyd, who was killed on Monday 25th May, 2020, by Police Officer in Minneapolis, Dereck Chauvin, serves as a heroic death, one out the thousands of black lives slaughtered at the hands of the ruthless white American policemen. This derogatory milestone has since then sparked off a wild fire that won’t be put out, a racial pandemic that is not about to end, and a wave of change that rages on to create a legacy that every black man and human or any human being, that has experienced unfair discrimination, segregation or oppression of any form will forever be proud of. As Barack Obama said “ I am hopeful change is coming”

Governments always seem to understand one language; protests, strikes and riots. Well, these radical approaches seem to be paying off. Precincts are burning, statues are being broken, commitments are being made, and for the first time, history is drastically sabotaged. America, the rest of the world is fade up OF THE EXACT SAME INCIDENCES. It’s absurd that with the same color of blood, same organs, same body anatomy, to be divided by the color of our skins! Instead, the beauty of our differences should serve to unite us more rather than divide us. Our unique attributes should never outlive their usefulness.

Byaruhanga Francis

#Reduced Inequalities

THE 2020 NEW EDUCATION ERA

Every student in the world today is made of mixed feelings; happy and sad to join the modern academia. This has gone down to the greatest history of man with millions of students not knowing what their tomorrow counts onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Just few months into this score year, an enemy now to everyone, whose symbolic shadow we cry about today, financially has broken many that are unstable. Both schools and parents have been caught unaware in terms of loses and purchase after school for the term respectively. Teachers have made loses in their salary earnings and are unemployed, for instance the Makereee university lecturers who have got unpaid. While parents have moved into purchase of study materials and online study equipments like gadgets.

This era is now decentralising education to one based in your home walls. One like that of the informal style where parents are involved like in the earlier days. This has come with risks like cyber bullying since many are now cloned to the internet, teenage pregnancies, early marriages and gender based violence at a high rise because they are plenty clouds in clouds in the society. Since this has befallen our spheres, many involved in the risks brought by the new era of education are likely to not go back to schools when they are reopened.

It's a huge undertaking for parents and schools since the students freely mix with the society yet in the past it was a student- student relation and teacher- student relation. Now it is either a parent-student relation or a student - community relation. This domain has changed rocketry and will take deserts to dry for it to change. Yes, though there is an online interaction among students, there is a poor implementation of online learning costs, so not all students are onto it because of the high costs to access the online learning.

As a matter of fact, schools must now have an element of online learning in what is termed as Blended learning. This now enables handling large numbers of students at the school. Now it is a call for those involved in the sector to apply workable energies to this era of distant learning experience to ensure effective learning in this new education era to save the lost and likely to be lost.

By Othieno Emmanuel