New attitudes, not just new laws, needed for gender equality, says rights group

Deeply-rooted norms and expectations often have a negative impact on women and girls - attitudes that are likely to persist despite anti-discrimination laws.

By: Thomson Reuters Foundation | London | Published: January 22, 2018 12:22 pm

Deeply-rooted norms and expectations often have a negative impact on women and girls (Source: Thinkstock)

Even countries keen to advance women’s rights, like Germany and Switzerland, are unlikely to achieve true gender equality by the 2030 target agreed by world leaders as women are held back by harmful attitudes, charity Plan International said on Monday.

Deeply-rooted norms and expectations often have a negative impact on women and girls – attitudes that are likely to persist despite anti-discrimination laws.

“No country will come even close to true gender equality unless they broaden their focus beyond laws, policies and equal access to services and employment to also tackle harmful gender norms,” Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, chief executive of Plan International, said in a statement.