Gender equality – our unfinished business

IN a male-dominated world, there is no doubt that the empowerment of women must be a key priority. This is fundamental to address a historic injustice, reflected in arbitrary stereotypes, in exclusionary policies and anchored sectarian ideologies. It is also about development effectiveness. A recent study found that $12 trillion could be added to global gross domestic product by 2025 by just advancing women’s equality. In addition, there is growing evidence that if women’s employment equaled men’s, economies would be more resilient, and growth would be more sustainable. Women and girls with better reproductive health and education also have better chances in life. They earn higher salaries. They invest more in the health of their children. In other words, investments now can pay dividends for generations.

The Covid-19 pandemic has given us a wealth of lessons on gender equality. Lockdowns have exposed the enormous value of unpaid care and domestic work for the economy and how disproportionately this burden has been shouldered by women. Many analysts have even highlighted how women leaders around the world have demonstrated successful management of the Covid-19 pandemic, based on inclusive, evidence-based leadership. Yet, women lead only 7 percent of countries. For instance, a survey of 30 countries with Covid-19 task forces and committees showed that, on average, only 24 percent of members were women. In conflict-affected countries, women’s representation in Covid-19 taskforces is even lower — at 18 percent.