UN Deputy-Secretary General Amina Mohammed Reiterates Call for Global Gender Equality

Strategic Insights -

United Nations Deputy-Secretary General Amina Mohammed highlighted the importance of advancing global gender equality and women's development, 30 years after the adoption of the landmark Beijing Declaration. The Global Leaders' Meeting on Women, co-hosted by China and UN Women, aims to reignite the spirit of the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women and push for progress on gender equality targets. Despite advancements, the pace of change has been slow, with none of the gender equality targets on track, and 708 million women excluded from the labor market by unpaid care work.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Beijing Declaration, adopted in 1995, is a foundational international treaty that has lit the path to progress in global gender equality and women's development.
  • Despite 30 years of progress, the pace of change has been slow, with none of the gender equality targets on track by 2030.
  • 708 million women are excluded from the labor market due to unpaid care work, and 351 million women and girls are at risk of being trapped in extreme poverty in 2030.
  • The Beijing Declaration has been incorporated into every major UN framework since its adoption, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Pact for the Future.
  • Increasing the number of women in leadership roles is crucial, as evidenced by the fact that where women lead, we see more durable peace, more profitable businesses, and more inclusive policies.
  • The financial imperative to advancing gender equality is significant, with studies showing that ensuring women and girls acquire quality education and digital skills could lift 30 million people from extreme poverty and inject $1.5 trillion into the global economy in just five years.

Statistics:

  • 708 million women are excluded from the labor market by unpaid care work.
  • 351 million women and girls are at risk of being trapped in extreme poverty in 2030.
  • 30 million people could be lifted from extreme poverty by ensuring women and girls acquire quality education and digital skills.
  • $1.5 trillion could be injected into the global economy in just five years by advancing gender equality.
  • 5 years remain to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Sources:

  • United Nations
  • UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
  • UN Women
  • Global Leaders' Meeting on Women