Gender mpowerment enabling people to make choices and convert these into desired

actions and results. In doing so, people - not just women - take control of their own lives,
improve
their own position, set their own agenda, gain skills, develop self-confidence, solve problems,
and
develop self-sufficiency. Empowerment leads to genuine participation of all actors as it is a
process of
gaining self-confidence for individual development as well as to contribute towards development
of
others. The ultimate objective of empowerment is to achieve gender equality by promoting
gender
equity measures. Equity and Equality are sometimes wrongly used interchangeably, although
they
mean different, they are also complementary.

And also this is a concept that all human beings, both men and women, are free to develop their
personal abilities and make choices without the limitations set by stereotypes, rigid gender
roles, or
prejudices. Gender equality means that the different behaviours, aspirations and needs of
women and
men are considered, valued and favoured equally. It does not mean that women and men have
to
become the same, but that their rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not depend on
whether they are born male or female.