Issue in Focus
Gender equality is a basic human right and its achievement has immense socioeconomic implications. Yet, gender inequalities are deeply rooted in every society.
Sustainable Development Goal No. 5 is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. While progress has been made, no country in the world has achieved gender equality.
- According to the UN Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, climate change may push up to 158.3 million more women and girls into poverty (16 million more than the total number of men and boys).
- According to recent data from some 90 countries, women devote on average roughly three times more hours a day to unpaid care and domestic work than men, limiting the time available for paid work, education and leisure and further reinforcing gender-based socioeconomic disadvantages.
- It takes women 15 months to earn the same amount as men earn in 12 months. Women are paid approximately 81 cents for every dollar a man makes.
- Women continue to be underrepresented at all levels of political leadership. As of 1 November 2023, women’s representation in national Parliaments ranged from 0 to 61.3%, with the average standing at 26.7%.
- While women represented 46% of world employment, only 32% of managerial positions in the world were occupied by women in 2023.
- Throughout the world, one in three women and girls have already experienced physical and/or sexual violence. Less than 40% sought help, and of those, only 10% went to the police.
- Of all of the women who were killed in 2020, 58% were murdered by their partner or a family member.
- Globally, one in five girls were married before age 18.
Zonta in Action
In 2022, the SDG Gender Index found that not one country is on track to attain gender equality by 2030. The Global Gender Gap Report 2023 estimates estimates at the current rate of progress, it will take 131 years to reach full parity. While the global parity score has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, the overall rate of change has slowed down significantly. Zonta International has spent 100 years advocating for gender equality and continues to fight for the cause.
Zonta and its clubs advocate on a variety of issues related to gender equality and women’s empowerment through:
In addition to our advocacy efforts, Zonta’s education programs and international service projects work to empower women and provide them opportunities to live on an equal basis as men.