United Nations SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The United Nations set up seventeen goals in 2015, related to global development, to be achieved by 2030, which work as a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all and are collectively known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The tenth on the list is Reduced Inequalities, which aims to ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of the outcome within and among countries, by eliminating discriminatory laws, and policies and promoting appropriate legislation and action by 2030. Sadly, the pandemic reversed some of the progress made in reducing the income inequality due to the financial crisis and the doubling of the global refugee population has also slowed this down. There is an immediate need to put concentrated efforts and re-work towards reducing all forms of inequalities. 

Often, when the goal is discussed, irrespective of the forums, the specific sub-goals under SDG 10 are rarely discussed and are not addressed.  The awareness of the following sub-goals is crucial since they help us plan, analyse and determine the fulfilment of the goal of reducing inequalities.

1. Reduce income inequalities and sustain income growth of the bottom 40% of the population at a rate higher than the national average.

2. Promote universal social, economic, and political inclusion irrespective of age, sex, race, ethnicity, religion or economic or other statuses.

3. Ensure equal opportunities and end discrimination.

4. Adopt fiscal and social policies that promote equality to achieve greater equality.

5. Improve regulation of global financial markets and institutions.

6. Enhance representation for developing countries in financial institutions to deliver more effective, credible, accountable, and legitimate institutions.

7. Create responsible and well-managed migration policies.

8. Provide special and differential treatment for developing countries in accordance with World Trade Organisation agreements.

9. Encourage development assistance and investment in the least developed countries.

10. Reduce transaction costs for migrant remittances to less than 3% and eliminate remittance corridors with costs higher than 5%.

These provide an overview of the various areas that need to be worked upon – which are multifaceted. There is a need to investigate these holistically to address the issues of income inequality, improvement of migration policies, facilitation of development assistance, and increase of equal opportunities.

Apart from these, the fulfilment of this SDG goal would be responsible for the fulfilment of the other SDG goals of the UN viz. proper work and economic growth, industry, innovation and infrastructure, etc as it would help in creating a better platform to focus on other goals.

Based on these, individuals, organisations, and governments across the globe need to base their strategies on the goals as well as sub-goals to bring in a focussed approach to the eradication of social evils in specific communities.

In this series of articles, we will discuss each of the SDGs in detail to understand the role of countries and stakeholders to fulfil these sustainable development goals.