Gender equality goals off track as global progress falters

Gender equality goals off track as global progress falters | Photo: Nikoli Afina

The release of the Gender Snapshot 2025 paints a sobering picture of stalled and, in some areas, reversed progress toward equality between women and men. Despite decades of policy commitments, no global gender equality targets are on track for delivery by 2030.

The report highlights that the fragile gains of recent years are being undermined by conflict, austerity, and political backlash, exposing the structural fragility of systems meant to support women and girls.

The findings matter not only for half of humanity but also for the sustainability of societies and economies worldwide. Gender equality, long described as a cornerstone of fair development, is increasingly under strain. Without decisive intervention, the consequences will reverberate across labour markets, political systems, humanitarian responses, and the stability of future generations.

Millions risk being locked in poverty and violence

The report estimates that by 2030, 351 million women and girls will remain trapped in extreme poverty if current trajectories persist. This poverty is compounded by exposure to conflict: in 2023 alone, 612 million women and girls lived within 50 kilometres of an armed conflict, a rise of 41% since 2015. Such conditions have coincided with a 50% increase in conflict-related sexual violence since 2022, suggesting that vulnerability is intensifying rather than receding.

Funding gaps are widening. Half of women’s organisations in crisis-affected areas report that they could close within six months due to dwindling resources. The scale of underinvestment is stark: achieving gender equality is estimated to require around US$420 billion annually, while global military spending stands at US$2.7 trillion.

Meanwhile, regressive social norms persist. Nearly three-quarters of countries continue to allow marriage under the age of 18 in some circumstances, undermining efforts to protect girls’ rights.

Six pressure points defining the future

The snapshot identifies six domains where intervention is most urgent:

1.     Digital inclusion: women remain disproportionately excluded from access to technology, digital skills, and representation in tech sectors.

2.     Economic empowerment: many women remain in insecure work, with limited protection or upward mobility.

3.     Safety and protection: the rise in violence, alongside weakening services, puts millions at risk.

4.     Equal decision-making: women remain underrepresented in political and corporate leadership.

5.     Sexual and reproductive health and rights: gains remain vulnerable to shifting political climates and shrinking budgets.

6.     Norms and institutions: entrenched biases and weak enforcement continue to block structural transformation.

Each of these pressure points is both a challenge and an opportunity. Digital inclusion, for instance, could rapidly improve access to education and employment, yet the digital gender divide risks deepening inequalities if left unchecked.

Why progress is reversing

Several forces are driving regression. Armed conflicts and humanitarian crises disproportionately harm women by stripping away protective institutions and fuelling displacement. At the same time, austerity and shifting budget priorities in donor countries are cutting resources for women’s organisations just when needs are greatest.

Cultural backlash, often framed in opposition to so-called “gender ideology,” is also undermining rights. Even where legal protections exist, enforcement is frequently weak, revealing institutional inertia. Added to this are intersectional pressures from climate change, food insecurity, and forced migration, which magnify women’s vulnerability.

A fragile future, but not without resilience

The report underscores that women are not passive victims of these crises. Grassroots organisations, digital movements, and local initiatives continue to resist retrenchment and press for innovation. Yet, without long-term funding and political commitment, even the most resilient networks face exhaustion.

Meeting the Sustainable Development Goal on gender equality will not be possible under present conditions. The global community is faced with a choice: either continue on a path of incremental erosion or make a serious reallocation of resources and political will towards inclusive futures.

The Gender Snapshot 2025 makes clear that equality is not a distant aspiration but an urgent necessity tied to poverty reduction, peacebuilding, and sustainable growth. If the world continues to underinvest, the social and economic costs will far outweigh the price of action.

For further reading on global efforts and country-level initiatives, see UN DESA gender statistics portal and UN Women’s gender data resources.