Women’s rights regressed in a quarter of all countries in 2023 due to factors like climate change, democratic backsliding, and conflicts, according to a UN Women report. It found that setbacks in gender equality are actively undermining the Beijing Platform for Action. While female parliamentary representation has doubled since 1995, men still dominate legislatures. Employment gaps remain stagnant, with only 63% of women aged 25-54 in paid work compared to 92% of men. Conflict-related sexual violence has surged by 50% in the past decade, affecting mostly young women and children. Additionally, over half of women in 12 European and Central Asian countries have faced gender-based online violence. The report urges action on climate justice, AI equity, poverty reduction, and gendered violence to tackle inequality.
