VAWG and Post-2015 working groups call for removal of age caps in SDG indicators

January 2016

GADN’s working groups on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and the Post-2015 agenda have called for the removal of age caps in SDG indicators on violence against women.

Writing to Baroness Verma, Ministerial Champion for Tackling VAWG Overseas, the two GADN working groups emphasise the importance of ensuring women and men of all ages are adequately represented in measuring the goals and targets of the SDGs. 

A recent report by the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goal Indicators proposes the removal of age caps on measuring violence against women so that it would be inclusive of women of all ages and measure from age 15+. This mainly refers to SDG target 5.2.

GADN welcomes this proposal but recognises that the decision to remove age caps is far from final.  If adopted, this amendment would send a clear signal that violence against older women will not be tolerated, and GADN, therefore, urges Baroness Verma to ensure this message carries through in the upcoming negotiations.