THE SPIRITUALITY CRISIS IN THE SDGS AND ITS RELATION TO EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY IN INDONESIA AND MALAYSIA

Abstract

This article discusses the crisis of spirituality in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly about efforts to achieve gender equality in Indonesia and Malaysia. The SDGs, as a global development agenda, do not include a spiritual or religious dimension in their framework, although spirituality plays an important role in people’s lives in many countries, including Indonesia and Malaysia. By ignoring the role of religion, particularly in the context of gender equality, the SDGs face significant challenges in their implementation in countries with a strong religious base. This article reviews critiques from Islamic thinkers such as Sayyed Hossein Nasr and Ziauddin Sardar, who highlight the importance of integrating spiritual values into the sustainable development agenda. This article also highlights that in Indonesia and Malaysia, an approach to gender equality that involves spirituality and religion can result in policies that are more inclusive and accepted by the wider community. Integrating spirituality into SDGs policies has the potential to strengthen efforts to achieve sustainable gender equality in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Keywords: Gender Equality, SDGs, Spirituality Crisis