This paper supports the case for a transformative goal on gender equality, women’s rights and women’s empowerment. The case for a stand-alone gender-related goal, as well as addressing gender priorities into each goal, has been actively supported by Pacific Leaders and the women’s movement. The importance of a standalone goal in post-2015 development agenda was evident at the 12th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women held 2013. A key recommendation from the Triennial Conference was that; ‘the post 2015 development agenda to adopt a transformative stand-alone goal to achieve gender equality, women’s rights and women’s empowerment, structured around several target areas: freedom from violence, gender equality in capabilities and resources, gender equality and decision making power, and a voice in public and private institutions’.

This document sets out the stand-alone goal to achieve gender equality, women’s rights and women’s empowerment proposed by UN Women and structured around three global target areas:
• Freedom from violence.
• Gender equality in capabilities and resources.
• Gender equality in decision-making power and voice in public and private institutions.

These three areas address inter-related dimensions of gender inequality.

Global indicators that are designed to measure progress towards transformative change in gender relations are useful to monitor a stand-alone goal and the gender considerations in other goals.