Gender parity remains elusive, with less than one per cent of women and girls living in countries that exhibit both high women’s empowerment and a small gender gap, said a report by UN Women and the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
Out of 114 countries studied, none has achieved full gender parity. The report uncovers that more than 90% of the world’s female population, totalling 3.1 billion women and girls, reside in countries with significant women’s empowerment deficits and gender gaps. The findings indicate that higher human development alone is insufficient to guarantee gender parity.
THE INDICES
The report introduces two crucial indices for measuring progress in women’s human development: the Women’s Empowerment Index (WEI) and the Global Gender Parity Index (GGPI).
The WEI assesses women’s power and freedoms across five dimensions: health, education, inclusion, decision-making, and violence against women. Similarly, the GGPI evaluates women’s status relative to men in essential aspects of human development, including health, education, inclusion, and decision-making.
GLOBAL EMPOWERMENT
Shockingly, the global average for women’s empowerment stands at only 60% of their full potential, as measured by the WEI. Additionally, women achieve only 72% of what men do across key human development dimensions, indicating a considerable 28% gender gap, as shown by the GGPI. These deficits and disparities hinder not only women’s well-being and advancement but also overall human progress.
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous emphasizes that despite the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), women’s full potential remains unrealized, obstructing progress towards gender equality. She calls for sustained efforts to secure women’s human rights and fundamental freedoms.
ACTION
The WEI and GGPI provide policymakers with essential evidence on progress and the necessary policy actions to achieve gender equality and empowerment. The report emphasizes the need for comprehensive policy action in health, education, work-life balance, equal participation, and violence prevention against women.
To tackle these challenges, the indices serve as catalysts for change, enabling comprehensive tracking and assessment of progress across countries. With global challenges threatening human development and exacerbating gender disparities, informed action is crucial.
The report’s release coincides with the stock-taking moment for the Sustainable Development Goals and paves the way for furthering efforts towards achieving each of the 17 goals. Policymakers, stakeholders, and communities must harness the power of the indices to accelerate progress towards a more equitable and inclusive world.
