Report on the Status of Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality

Executive Summary: Global Regression on Gender Equality Targets

A joint report by UN Women and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, titled “The SDG Gender Snapshot 2025,” indicates a global retreat from gender equality. Analysis of over 100 data sources reveals that, five years from the 2030 deadline, none of the targets for Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5: Gender Equality) are on track. The report underscores that 2025 marks a critical juncture, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and calls for urgent, accelerated investment to reverse current trends.

Analysis of Key SDG Indicators for Gender Equality

SDG 1: No Poverty & SDG 5: Gender Equality

Progress towards eradicating female poverty has stalled. Key findings related to SDG 1 (No Poverty) include:

• The rate of female poverty has remained static at approximately 10 percent since 2020.
• The majority of women and girls living in poverty are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Southern Asia.
• Targeted interventions in social protection, education, and the green economy could lift 110 million women and girls out of extreme poverty by 2050.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions & SDG 5: Gender Equality

Conflict disproportionately affects women and girls, undermining progress on SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). In 2024, 676 million women and girls resided in conflict-affected areas, the highest number since the 1990s. This environment exacerbates risks and hinders development goals.

• Violence Against Women: This remains a pervasive issue, directly contravening SDG target 5.2. More than one in eight women experienced intimate partner violence in the past year.
• Harmful Practices: Nearly one in five young women were married before age 18, and an estimated four million girls undergo female genital mutilation annually, impeding progress on SDG target 5.3.

SDG 5 & SDG 8: Political and Economic Representation

Women’s participation in decision-making remains significantly below parity, affecting both SDG 5 (Target 5.5) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Progress is critically slow, with current projections indicating that gender parity in management roles is nearly a century away.

• Political Participation: Women hold only 27.2 percent of parliamentary seats globally. Representation in local governments has stagnated at 35.5 percent.
• Economic Leadership: Women occupy just 30 percent of management positions.

Areas of Progress and Potential for SDG Acceleration

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being & SDG 4: Quality Education

Despite overall setbacks, targeted investments have yielded significant gains in specific areas, demonstrating the potential for progress when gender equality is prioritized.

• Maternal Health (SDG 3): Maternal mortality has decreased by nearly 40 percent since 2000, a major achievement for SDG target 3.1.
• Education (SDG 4): Girls’ school completion rates have improved, indicating positive momentum towards achieving quality education for all.

SDG 9 & SDG 10: Digital Inclusion and Reduced Inequalities

Technology presents a significant opportunity to advance gender equality and related SDGs. Currently, 70 percent of men are online compared to 65 percent of women. Closing this digital divide, a key component of SDG 5 (Target 5.b) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), could yield substantial economic and social benefits.

• Poverty Reduction (SDG 1): Closing the gap could lift 30 million women and girls out of poverty.
• Economic Growth (SDG 8): An estimated $1.5 trillion could be added to the global economy by 2030.

Urgent Call to Action for the 2030 Agenda

Threats to Progress

Hard-won gains are threatened by several factors, including a backlash against women’s rights, shrinking civic space, and reduced funding for gender equality initiatives. A 25 percent reduction in available gender data due to survey funding cuts further impedes effective policymaking.

Investment and Priority Areas

The report emphasizes that gender equality is foundational for peace, development, and human rights. Failure to invest carries immense costs, while targeted action can unlock transformative economic returns. Anchored in the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, the report identifies six priority areas requiring accelerated action to achieve the 2030 Goals:

1. A digital revolution that is inclusive and equitable.
2. Freedom from poverty and economic insecurity.
3. Zero tolerance and elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls.
4. Full, equal, and meaningful participation in decision-making.
5. Peace and security for all women and girls.
6. Climate justice and a sustainable environment.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   • SDG 5: Gender Equality

     This is the central theme of the article. The entire text revolves around the lack of progress on gender equality targets, citing the “SDG Gender Snapshot report”. It explicitly states that “none of the gender equality targets are on track” and discusses issues like violence against women, child marriage, female genital mutilation, women’s representation in politics and management, and the gender digital divide.

   • SDG 1: No Poverty

     The article directly addresses female poverty, stating it “has barely shifted in half a decade, stuck at around 10 per cent since 2020.” It also highlights how closing the gender digital divide could lift “30 million out of poverty” and that targeted interventions could reduce the number of women in extreme poverty by 110 million by 2050.

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

     The article discusses health-related issues affecting women and girls. It mentions progress in reducing maternal mortality, noting it “has dropped nearly 40 per cent since 2000.” It also touches upon health risks in conflict zones and includes a picture of a malnourished girl, implicitly connecting to health and nutrition.

   • SDG 4: Quality Education

     The article points to education as an area of progress, stating that “girls are now more likely than ever to finish school.” This directly connects to the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

   • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

     The article highlights the impact of conflict on women, mentioning that “676 million women and girls lived within reach of deadly conflict” and references the “United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.” This links the discussion to the goal of promoting peaceful and inclusive societies.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls.

     The article explicitly states that “More than one in eight women worldwide experienced physical or sexual violence at the hands of a partner in the past year.”

   • Target 5.3: Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

     This target is directly addressed with the statistics that “nearly one in five young women was married before the age of 18” and “an estimated four million girls undergo female genital mutilation” annually.

   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership.

     The article provides data showing a lack of progress towards this target, noting that “Women hold just 27.2 per cent of parliamentary seats worldwide” and “in management, women occupy only 30 per cent of roles.”

   • Target 5.b: Enhance the use of enabling technology to promote the empowerment of women.

     The article discusses the “gender digital divide,” mentioning that “70 per cent of men are online compared to 65 per cent of women,” and highlights the economic benefits of closing this gap.

   • Target 1.1: By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere.

     The article focuses on the gender dimension of this target, stating that “female poverty has barely shifted in half a decade, stuck at around 10 per cent since 2020.”

   • Target 3.1: By 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio.

     Progress on this target is mentioned as a positive example: “Maternal mortality has dropped nearly 40 per cent since 2000.”

   • Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education.

     The article highlights progress in this area, stating that “girls are now more likely than ever to finish school.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   • Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to intimate partner violence.

     The article provides a direct measure for this indicator: “More than one in eight women worldwide experienced physical or sexual violence at the hands of a partner in the past year.”

   • Indicator 5.3.1: Proportion of women aged 20-24 years who were married or in a union before age 18.

     This is directly measured by the statistic that “nearly one in five young women was married before the age of 18.”

   • Indicator 5.3.2: Proportion of girls and women who have undergone female genital mutilation/cutting.

     The article implies this indicator by stating that “an estimated four million girls undergo female genital mutilation” each year.

   • Indicator 5.5.1: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments.

     The article provides precise figures for this indicator: “Women hold just 27.2 per cent of parliamentary seats worldwide, and their representation in local governments has stalled at 35.5 per cent.”

   • Indicator 5.5.2: Proportion of women in managerial positions.

     This is measured by the statement that “in management, women occupy only 30 per cent of roles.”

   • Indicator 1.1.1: Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line, by sex.

     The article provides a gender-disaggregated statistic for this indicator, noting that female poverty is “stuck at around 10 per cent since 2020.”

   • Indicator 3.1.1: Maternal mortality ratio.

     While not giving a specific ratio, the article measures progress towards this indicator by stating that “Maternal mortality has dropped nearly 40 per cent since 2000.”

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: news.un.org