Gender Snapshot 2026: Gender Equality, SDG 5 & Global Gaps

Subject: GS 02: Social Justice

Context: The Gender Snapshot 2026 report highlights that none of the targets under Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality) are on track to be achieved by 2030.

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About the Gender Snapshot

• The Gender Snapshot report is released by UN Women and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).
• Frequency: Published annually 
• Coverage: It tracks progress on gender equality across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provides a comprehensive overview of the latest data and evidence on gender equality.

Key Findings of The Report

• Erosion of Gender-Equality Institutions
  • Institutional Weakening: One in three institutions set up to advance gender equality has had its power weakened in the past two years. At the current pace, gender equality remains 171 years away. 
  • Women’s Rights Organisations: Funding for women’s rights organisations fell by 28% between 2023 and 2024.
• Leadership And Political Representation: 
  • Political Leadership: Six in seven countries are led by men.
  • Parliamentary Representation: Women hold 27.4% of seats in national parliaments in 2026.
  • Local Government: Women’s representation has stagnated at 35.6% since 2023.
  • Corporate Leadership: Women hold only 6% of corporate chief executive positions globally.
• Violence And Discriminatory Practices:
  • Violence Against Women: Nearly one in three women globally has experienced partner or sexual violence.
  • Intimate-Partner Violence: 316 million women experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner in the past 12 months.
  • Child Marriage: Nearly one in five girls is married before the age of 18.
  • Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): An estimated 230 million women and girls worldwide are survivors of FGM.
• Poverty, Food Security And Unpaid Care:
  • Extreme Poverty: In 2024, 9.9% of women lived in extreme poverty, compared with 9.5% of men.
  • Food Insecurity: At the current pace, 1.1 billion women and girls could still be food insecure by 2030.
  • Agricultural Productivity: Closing gender gaps in agricultural productivity could lift 45 million people out of food insecurity.
  • Unpaid Care Work: Women and girls spend 2.5 times more hours than men on unpaid domestic and care work.
• Technology And Climate Gaps:
  • AI Workforce: Women account for about 22% of AI professionals globally.
  • AI Leadership: Women hold fewer than 14% of senior AI leadership positions.
  • Climate Vulnerability: Around 2.9 billion women and girls live in countries highly or very highly exposed to climate change and geophysical hazards.

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News Source: DTE

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