Global: Gender equity - You get what you pay for

Achieving universal gender equality is an ambitious goal, one that has been articulated in the UN Charter and many resolutions, conference outcome documents and decisions of governments. It will require a shift in the way we think about gender roles and financial resources will have to be made available. Compared to military spending, however, the amount seems ridiculously small. In 2008, the world's military expenditure was estimated to be US$1,464 billion.