As UN Women marks its 15th anniversary this year, the world has seen important progress in gender equality that has changed the lives of women and girls across the globe. While this is cause for celebration, the push for equality is losing ground.
A survey from March 2025 shows a 60 per cent increase in concern about the lack of progress on gender equality.
UN Women data from more than 150 government reports confirm why: nearly one in four countries is seeing a backlash against women’s rights. Gender-based violence is rising. The gender digital divide is widening. And over 600 million women and girls now live near conflict zones.
This historic and precarious moment threatens to reverse hard-won gains. The progress achieved cannot be taken for granted.
To push forward on gender equality, UN Women is calling for 15 actions...
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Address the Backlash against women’s rights:
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Fact: In 2024, nearly one in four countries reported a backlash against women's rights, marking a significant regression in gender equality efforts.
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Solution: Renewed political will is essential to safeguard hard-won gains for all women and girls as promised in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, including ensuring that legal, political, and financial systems actively advance—not hinder—gender equality.
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End Conflict:
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Fact: In 2023, approximately 612 million women and girls lived within 50 kilometers of a conflict zone, more than 50 per cent higher than a decade ago.
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Solution: Increase investment in conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding.
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Promote Women in Peacemaking:
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Fact: Peace lasts longer when women are at the table. But between 2020 and 2023, 8 in 10 peace talks and 7 in 10 mediation efforts had no women involved. Despite proven impact, women remain shut out of peace processes.
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Solution: Parties to conflict and negotiators and other actors must uphold global commitments to the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in peace processes.
Read about all 15 actions on the UN Women website.
