Women's empowerment is the process in which women expand and recreate what it is that they can be, do, and accomplish in a circumstance that they previously were denied. Alternatively, it is the process for women to redefine gender roles that allows for them to acquire the ability to choose between known alternatives whom have otherwise been restricted from such an ability. There are several principles defining women's empowerment such as, for one to be empowered, they must come from a position of disempowerment. Women are more vulnerable to environmental degradation and climate change but also have different perspectives, cosers and ideas for change. Until these are taken on board, with women empowered to play a full part in decision-making at all levels, environmental sustainability will remain a distant goal. Yet women's empowerment must not mean simply adding to their burdens of responsibilities or building expectations of women as sustainability cavicura Millennium Development Goal 3 is to promote gender equality and empower women. This MDG is critical for tackling poverty and improving prospects for women. But how can women break gender based sicreotypes to minimise discrimination and reduce gender based violence when they are trapped in societies with socio-cultural practices which routinely discriminate them from having equal opporturities in education, health and livelihood.