The United Nations recently published a detailed report scrutinizing the worldwide state of women’s empowerment and gender equality. The study, jointly conducted by UN Women and the UN Development Programme, took into account 114 countries. These countries were assessed based on two key indices — the Women’s Empowerment Index (WEI) and the Global Gender Parity Index (GGPI). Critical action on policy-making is urgently required to bridge the gaps revealed in the report and drive improvement toward an inclusive and fair society.
Key Findings of the Report
The findings from the report are startling. It shows that only 1% of women across the globe reside in nations with high levels of women’s empowerment and gender parity. Leadership roles and decision-making processes continue to be dominated by men, leading to limited opportunities for women. According to the WEI, women attain only 60% of their full potential on average. The GGPI reveals that women trail behind men by 28% across significant dimensions of human development. Worryingly, none of the 114 surveyed countries have achieved complete women’s empowerment or gender parity.
Geographical Distribution and Economic Influence on Gender Equality
The report provides a grim portrayal of the geographic distribution of gender equality. Over 90% of women worldwide live in countries that score low or middle in terms of women’s empowerment and gender parity. Even economically advanced nations struggle with persisting gender equality issues. Out of the nations analyzed, more than 85 –including over half in the high or very high human development categories–display low or moderate women’s empowerment and gender parity. Economic growth alone does not guarantee gender equality. For instance, India experiences low women’s empowerment and gender parity despite its moderate human development.
Role of UN Women in Global Women Empowerment
UN Women, established in 2010 by the UN General Assembly, plays a fundamental role in accelerating progress for women and girls’ needs and rights worldwide. It assists UN Member States in setting global standards for achieving gender equality and collaborates with governments and civil societies to create and implement beneficial laws, policies, programs, and services for women and girls. It primarily focuses on four strategic priorities: women’s leadership and political participation, women’s economic empowerment, ending violence against women, and peace, security, and humanitarian action.
Comprehensive Policy Action Recommendations
The report recommends various policy actions. Governments should facilitate universal access to sexual and reproductive health, focusing on promoting long and healthy lives for all. In education, it is crucial to bridge the gaps in skills and enhance the quality of education, particularly in STEM fields. Work-life balance policies, affordable quality childcare, parental leave schemes, and flexible working arrangements should be prioritized. Efforts should be made to achieve gender parity in all public life spheres, and discriminatory laws that hinder women’s progress should be eliminated.
About Women’s Empowerment Index (WEI) & Global Gender Parity Index (GGPI)
The WEI, developed by UN Women and UNDP, measures women’s empowerment across five dimensions: life and good health, education, skill-building and knowledge, labor and financial inclusion, participation in decision-making, and freedom from violence. On the other hand, GGPI, also developed by UN Women and UNDP, assesses gender disparities in key human development areas including health, education, inclusion, and decision-making.
Indian Initiatives to Reduce Gender Gap
In India, a slew of initiatives have been launched to bridge the gender gap in social, economic, and political life. These include schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Mahila Shakti Kendra, Rashtriya Mahila Kosh, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna, capacity-building programs for elected women representatives, and political reservation in Panchayati Raj Institutions. Entrepreneurship programs like Stand-Up India and Mahila e-Haat have been introduced to support women entrepreneurs. These initiatives aim to uplift women’s status and empower them with skill development, education, and employment opportunities.
