Gender Parity is a numerical concept that measures relative equality in terms of numbers and proportions of men and women, girls and boys. Gender parity addresses the ratio of female-to male values (or males-to-females, in certain cases) of a given indicator. Reaching gender parity in education implies that the same proportion of boys and girls – relative to their respective age groups – would enter the education system and participate in its different cycles.

Gender equity is the process of being fair to women, men, girls, boys and gender minorities. To ensure fairness, strategies and measures must often be available to compensate for women’s, girls’ and gender minorities’ historical and social disadvantages that prevent women, men, girls, boys and gender minorities from otherwise operating on a level playing field. Equity leads to equality.

Gender equality requires equal enjoyment by women, men, girls, boys and gender minorities of socially-valued goods, opportunities, resources and rewards It means that all persons, regardless of their gender, enjoy the same status in society; have the same entitlements to all human rights; enjoy the same level of respect in the community; can take advantage of the same opportunities to make choices about their lives; and have the same amount of power to shape the outcomes of these choices.3