Women make up more than 40 percent of the global workforce, the CEOs of 21 of the largest global companies are women, and more young adult women than men have college degrees. But still, globally, women earn 77 percent of what men do, represent less than 5 percent of CEOs at S&P 500 companies, and face job restrictions in 100 economies. This doesn’t add up.

Womankind Worldwide has helped more than 18 million women and their families across the globe over the last 26 years with issues of discrimination, poverty, and violence. The organization sees the newly passed U.N. Sustainable Development Goals as a path toward the future and as a way to engage all levels of government and civil society in the safety and empowerment of women and their families.

On Saturday, August 29, STAR India's flagship channel Star Plus will air Girl Rising, an acclaimed documentary from Academy Award nominee Richard E. Robbins that raises awareness of gender inequality and advocates for women's empowerment. The film is the centerpiece of the Girl Rising campaign, which promotes women's rights around the world, and this broadcast will be the first time the film has been shown in India.

We are living in an era marked by substantial gains in human well-being but also rising income inequality and persistent jobless growth. Coupled with climate change, achieving inclusive prosperity for 9 billion people without exceeding planetary boundaries is the defining challenge of the 21^st century.