Global Gender Equality at Risk: UN Sounds Alarm on Urgent Gaps and Economic Costs

The United Nations has called for immediate global action to address critical gender gaps, as detailed in the newly released Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2024. The report, launched today by UN Women and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), reveals that while progress has been made in some areas, significant gender disparities persist. Reports Sarah Banda

According to the report, one in every four parliamentary seats globally is now held by women, marking a notable rise from a decade ago. Additionally, the percentage of women and girls living in extreme poverty has fallen below 10 per cent, reversing the steep rise seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Legal reforms have also been introduced, with 56 countries enacting legislation aimed at closing gender gaps since the release of the first Gender Snapshot.

Despite these advancements, the report underscores that none of the indicators under Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) – which aims for gender equality – are currently on track to be achieved. The prospect of gender parity in political representation, for example, remains distant, with estimates suggesting it will not be realised until 2063. Moreover, the eradication of poverty among women and girls is expected to take an astonishing 137 years at current rates, while one in four girls globally continues to be married before the age of 18.

The timing of the report is critical, as it comes ahead of the Summit of the Future, scheduled for 22-23 September. Leaders from around the world are being urged to forge a new international consensus aimed at accelerating progress towards gender equality.

“Today’s report reveals the undeniable truth: progress is achievable, but is not fast enough,” said Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women. “We need to continue dismantling the barriers that women and girls face and forge a future where gender equality is no longer an aspiration but a reality.”

The Economic Toll of Gender Inequality

The report also draws attention to the staggering economic costs of gender inequality. Countries that fail to adequately educate their young populations face an annual loss exceeding USD 10 trillion. Furthermore, low- and middle-income nations risk losing an additional USD 500 billion over the next five years if the digital gender gap is not addressed.

Li Junhua, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, echoed the urgency of the situation, stating, “The costs of inaction on gender equality are immense, and the rewards of achieving it are far too great to ignore. Only with the full and equal participation of women and girls can the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development be realised.”

Recommendations for Change

The report offers a range of recommendations designed to eliminate gender inequality across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Legal reform is identified as a key area, with findings showing that countries with domestic violence legislation have significantly lower rates of intimate partner violence – 9.5 per cent compared to 16.1 per cent in countries without such laws.

With the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action approaching in 2025, the report calls for increased investments and stronger efforts to eliminate discrimination against women and girls. The forthcoming Summit of the Future presents an opportunity for global leaders to take decisive action towards closing gender gaps and achieving the vision of the 2030 Agenda.

The Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2024 serves as a sobering reminder of the need for accelerated global efforts if gender equality is to be realised. Without such efforts, the report suggests, the world will fall short of its goals for a more equitable and sustainable future.

For more information on the report:
Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2024