Samina Mustafa
M.Phil. Scholar
Faltering Progress: UN Report Reveals Alarming Gender Disparities Worldwide
“Faltering progress, as exposed by the UN report, underscores the urgency for transformative change, urging us to confront the disconcerting gender disparities that persist and work collectively towards a more inclusive future.”
The contemporary global scenario, as delineated in the recent report by the United Nations (UN) on the state of affairs concerning girls and women, unfurls a disconcerting narrative of systemic failure. Despite concerted worldwide endeavors, the pursuit of gender equality appears to be an elusive endeavor. The unveiling of the UN Women and UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) joint publication, titled “Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The gender snapshot 2023,” on this 7th day of September in 2023, paints a somber tableau at the midpoint of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The ominous warning presented in “The gender snapshot 2023” asserts that, should prevailing trends persist, a staggering 340 million women and girls, constituting an estimated 8 percent of the global female populace, are destined to dwell in the abyss of extreme poverty by the year 2030. Furthermore, nearly one in four females will grapple with moderate to severe food insecurity. The intractable gender gap in power and leadership roles persists unabated, with the impending fate of the succeeding generation of women entailing an average of 2.3 additional hours per day dedicated to unpaid care and domestic responsibilities in comparison to their male counterparts.
The press release accompanying this stark revelation underscores the comprehensive analysis of gender equality vis-à-vis all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), elucidating prevalent trends, discernible gaps, and recent setbacks in the trajectory toward achieving gender parity by 2030. An unprecedented facet in this year’s report is the inclusion of sex-disaggregated data on the confluence of gender and climate change. The foreboding projection posits that, under the worst-case climate scenario, climate-induced ramifications may thrust an additional 158.3 million women and girls into the clutches of poverty by mid-century, eclipsing the toll on men and boys by a staggering 16 million.
Ms. Sarah Hendriks, the UN Women Deputy Executive Director, ad interim, unequivocally emphasized the exigency for immediate action in this pivotal juncture of the SDGs. The clarion call resonates, demanding collective and intentional efforts to rectify the course for a world where parity in rights, opportunities, and representation for every woman and girl prevails. The attainment of such a paradigm necessitates steadfast commitment, innovative solutions, and collaborative endeavors spanning all sectors and stakeholders.
Distinguished by a special focus on older women, the report delineates a disconcerting reality wherein older women contend with elevated rates of poverty and violence in comparison to their male counterparts. In 28 out of 116 countries with available data, fewer than half of older women enjoy the security of a pension, with a mere 10 percent or less having access to such financial safeguards in 12 countries. The midway mark to 2030 unveils a disheartening lack of progress concerning SDG 5, dedicated to gender equality. The report starkly highlights the world’s faltering strides, with a meager two Goal 5 indicators positioned as “close to target,” and none achieving the status of “target met or almost met.”
“The gender snapshot 2023” illuminates the pressing need for concerted endeavors to hasten progress toward gender parity by 2030. The revelation posits an annual financial injection of an additional USD 360 billion as imperative to actualize gender equality and women’s empowerment across pivotal global goals. The report echoes calls for an integrated and holistic approach, heightened collaboration among stakeholders, sustained financial backing, and policy actions to redress gender imbalances and empower women and girls universally. A poignant conclusion emerges: the failure to accord priority to gender equality jeopardizes the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Maria-Francesca Spatolisano, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs of UN DESA, elucidates, “Gender equality is not merely a goal within the 2030 Agenda; it constitutes the very bedrock of a just society, a goal upon which all others must stand. By dismantling barriers impeding the full participation of women and girls in every facet of society, we unleash untapped potential propelling progress and prosperity for all.”
The report lays bare a grim reality, highlighting the severity of the crisis at hand. Under the direst climate scenarios, projections indicate that food insecurity will disproportionately afflict 236 million more women and girls compared to 131 million more men and boys, amplifying the gendered impact of climate-induced changes. Moreover, the eradication of intimate partner violence remains a distant goal, with a mere 27 countries equipped with comprehensive systems for monitoring and budgeting towards gender equality and women’s empowerment. The alarming surge of women and girls in conflict-afflicted zones, reaching 614 million in 2022, marks a disconcerting 50 percent increase from 2017 figures. The report forewarns that, at the current pace, a staggering 110 million girls and young women globally will be deprived of education by 2030. The persistent chasm in labor and earnings accentuates gender disparities, with women earning a meager 51 cents for every dollar earned by men in labor income. This economic divide is further underscored by a stark contrast in labor force participation, with only 61.4 percent of women in their prime working age engaged, compared to an imposing 90 percent of men in the same demographic. The cumulative impact of these findings paints a sobering picture of the challenges impeding progress towards gender equality on a global scale.
In summation, the UN report paints an intricate and troubling tapestry of gender disparities, climate-induced vulnerabilities, and pervasive societal challenges that necessitate urgent and substantive action. The call to arms is unmistakable, demanding a collective, global commitment to dismantle barriers, bridge divides, and pave the way for a future where the rights, opportunities, and representation of every woman and girl are not just lofty aspirations but tangible realities. The onus lies on the international community to rise above inertia, champion inclusivity, and galvanize transformative change for the betterment of humanity as a whole.
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