Gender equality: UN Women calls for political will and accelerated global action – UN News

 

Progress Report on Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality

Current Status and Projections

Global progress towards gender equality is in retreat, jeopardizing the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A 2025 report by UN Women and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, titled “SDG Gender Snapshot,” indicates that none of the targets for Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5: Gender Equality) are on track. This assessment comes at a critical juncture, with 2025 marking significant milestones, including the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The data underscores an urgent need for accelerated investment and action to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.

Key Challenges to Achieving Gender Equality (SDG 5)

Economic Disparity and Poverty (SDG 1)

Progress on eradicating poverty among women has stalled, undermining SDG 1 (No Poverty). Key findings include:

• The female poverty rate has remained static at approximately 10% since 2020.
• High concentrations of women living in poverty are found in sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Southern Asia.

Impact of Conflict on Women and Girls (SDG 16)

Conflict disproportionately affects women and girls, hindering progress on SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). In 2024, a record 676 million women and girls were living in conflict-affected areas. The consequences of conflict extend beyond displacement and include:

• Increased food insecurity.
• Heightened health risks.
• Elevated levels of violence.

Pervasive Violence Against Women and Girls (SDG 5.2)

Violence against women remains a significant barrier to achieving gender equality. Global statistics reveal a persistent crisis:

• More than one in eight women experienced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner in the past year.
• Nearly one in five young women was married before the age of 18.
• An estimated four million girls undergo female genital mutilation annually.

Underrepresentation in Leadership and Decision-Making (SDG 5.5)

Women’s participation in public and corporate life remains severely limited, with progress toward parity moving at an insufficient pace.

• Women hold only 27.2% of parliamentary seats worldwide.
• Representation in local governments has stagnated at 35.5%.
• In management, women occupy just 30% of roles; at the current rate, parity is nearly a century away.

Areas of Progress and Potential for Acceleration

Gains in Health and Education (SDG 3 & SDG 4)

Despite significant challenges, targeted investments have yielded positive results in specific areas related to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education).

• Maternal mortality has decreased by nearly 40% since 2000.
• Girls’ school completion rates have shown marked improvement.

The Digital Divide and Economic Opportunity (SDG 8 & SDG 10)

Closing the gender digital divide presents a substantial opportunity to advance SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Currently, 70% of men are online compared to 65% of women. Bridging this gap could yield significant benefits:

• Positively impact 343.5 million women and girls by 2050.
• Lift 30 million individuals out of poverty.
• Add an estimated $1.5 trillion to the global economy by 2030.

Threats to Progress and Call to Action

Emerging Threats

Hard-won gains in gender equality are threatened by several factors, including a backlash against women’s rights, shrinking civic space, and reduced funding for gender-focused initiatives. A critical issue is the decline in gender data availability, with 25% less data now accessible due to funding cuts, which severely hampers evidence-based policymaking.

Economic Imperative for Investment

The report emphasizes that the economic costs of failing to achieve gender equality are immense. Conversely, targeted interventions could generate transformative returns. Accelerated action in key sectors could:

• Reduce the number of women and girls in extreme poverty by 110 million by 2050.
• Unlock an estimated $342 trillion in cumulative economic returns.

Beijing+30 Action Agenda: Priority Areas for 2030

The report frames 2025 as a moment for decisive action. Anchored in the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, it identifies six priority areas requiring urgent intervention to achieve the SDGs for all women and girls by 2030.

1. A digital revolution that is inclusive and equitable.
2. Freedom from poverty and economic empowerment.
3. Zero tolerance for violence against women and girls.
4. Full and equal participation in decision-making.
5. Inclusion in peace and security processes.
6. Advancement of climate justice.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty: The article directly addresses female poverty, stating it has “barely shifted in half a decade, stuck at around 10 per cent since 2020.” It also suggests that closing the gender digital divide could lift “30 million out of poverty.”
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The article mentions that for women in war zones, “Food insecurity” rises sharply. This is visually supported by an image caption describing a “two-year-old girl suffering from malnutrition.”
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article discusses health risks in conflict zones and highlights progress in reducing maternal mortality, noting it has “dropped nearly 40 per cent since 2000.”
• SDG 4: Quality Education: Progress in education is mentioned, with the article stating that “girls are now more likely than ever to finish school.”
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: This is the central theme of the article. It covers multiple facets of gender equality, including violence against women, child marriage, female genital mutilation, political and economic leadership, and the gender digital divide.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article highlights the impact of conflict on women, stating that “676 million women and girls lived within reach of deadly conflict.” It also references the UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty. The article’s focus on female poverty being “stuck at around 10 per cent” and the potential for interventions to reduce the number of women in extreme poverty directly relates to this target.
• Target 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio. The article explicitly mentions that “Maternal mortality has dropped nearly 40 per cent since 2000,” which is a key measure of progress for this target.
• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls in the public and private spheres. The article provides specific data on this, mentioning that “More than one in eight women worldwide experienced physical or sexual violence at the hands of a partner” and that “an estimated four million girls undergo female genital mutilation” annually.
• Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage. The article directly addresses this by stating that “nearly one in five young women was married before the age of 18.”
• Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in political, economic and public life. The article provides statistics on women’s representation in leadership roles, noting they hold “just 27.2 per cent of parliamentary seats,” “35.5 per cent” of local government seats, and “only 30 per cent of roles” in management.
• Target 5.b: Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women. The article discusses the “gender digital divide,” noting that “70 per cent of men are online compared to 65 per cent of women,” and highlights the economic benefits of closing this gap.
• Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The article’s data on the “676 million women and girls” living in conflict zones and the associated rise in violence and health risks connects to this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 1.2: The proportion of women living in poverty. The article states this is “stuck at around 10 per cent since 2020.”
• Indicator for Target 3.1: The maternal mortality ratio. The article implies this indicator by stating that “Maternal mortality has dropped nearly 40 per cent since 2000.”
• Indicator for Target 5.2: The proportion of women subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner in the previous 12 months. The article provides a figure: “More than one in eight women worldwide.” It also mentions the number of girls undergoing female genital mutilation, stating it is an “estimated four million girls” each year.
• Indicator for Target 5.3: The proportion of women who were married or in a union before age 18. The article gives the statistic that “nearly one in five young women was married before the age of 18.”
• Indicator for Target 5.5: The proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments, and the proportion of women in managerial positions. The article provides specific data for these: “27.2 per cent of parliamentary seats,” “35.5 per cent” in local governments, and “30 per cent” of management roles.
• Indicator for Target 5.b: The proportion of individuals who use the Internet, by sex. The article highlights the gap: “70 per cent of men are online compared to 65 per cent of women.”
• Indicator for Target 16.1: The number of women and girls affected by conflict. The article provides the figure of “676 million women and girls lived within reach of deadly conflict.”

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

SDGs	Targets	Indicators
SDG 1: No Poverty	1.2: Reduce poverty in all its dimensions by half.	Proportion of women living in poverty is “stuck at around 10 per cent since 2020.”
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	3.1: Reduce the global maternal mortality ratio.	“Maternal mortality has dropped nearly 40 per cent since 2000.”
SDG 5: Gender Equality	5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.	“More than one in eight women worldwide experienced physical or sexual violence at the hands of a partner in the past year.” “an estimated four million girls undergo female genital mutilation” annually.
	5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child marriage.	“nearly one in five young women was married before the age of 18.”
	5.5: Ensure women’s full participation and equal opportunities for leadership.	Women hold “27.2 per cent of parliamentary seats,” “35.5 per cent” of local government seats, and “30 per cent of roles” in management.
	5.b: Enhance the use of enabling technology to promote the empowerment of women.	The gender digital divide: “70 per cent of men are online compared to 65 per cent of women.”
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions	16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence.	“676 million women and girls lived within reach of deadly conflict.”

Source: news.un.org