UN report finds women’s rights were ‘weakened in a quarter of countries’

Sub :IR

Sec: Int conventions

Context:

A recent report by UN Women, highlighted that women’s rights have regressed in a quarter of countries around the world in the past year.
The report attributes this decline to various factors, including climate change, democratic backsliding, and increasing challenges to gender equality.

Factors Contributing to Regression of Women’s Rights:

Democratic Backsliding: The weakening of democratic institutions is closely linked to setbacks in gender equality. In many countries, anti-rights actors have been actively undermining long-established consensus on women’s rights issues.
Climate Change: The effects of climate change have disproportionately impacted women, particularly in vulnerable regions, affecting their rights and opportunities.

Backlash on Gender Equality:

According to the UN Women report, almost one-quarter of countries are experiencing a backlash against gender equality.
This has hampered the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, a document from the 1995 World Conference on Women, which laid out a global agenda for women’s rights.

Positive Developments in Women’s Rights:

Female Representation in Parliaments: Since 1995, the number of women in parliamentary positions has more than doubled, although men still represent about three-quarters of all parliamentarians.
Social Protection: The number of women with social protection benefits increased by one-third between 2010 and 2023. However, two billion women and girls still live in regions without such protections.

Key Challenges faced by Women Globally:

Gender Employment Gaps: Employment rates for women have remained stagnant. About 63% of women between the ages of 25 and 54 are employed compared to 92% of men in the same age group.
Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: The report reveals a sharp increase in conflict-related sexual violence, with incidents spiking by 50% over the past decade. The majority (95%) of the victims are young women and children.
Women in Conflict Zones: In 2023, 612 million women lived within 50 kilometres of active armed conflicts, marking a 54% increase since 2010.
Gender-Based Violence Online: In Europe and Central Asia, at least 53% of women in 12 countries have experienced gender-based violence online.

About UN Women:

UN Women is a United Nations entity dedicated to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women worldwide.
It was established in 2010 through the merger of four previously distinct UN offices focused on gender issues, aiming to streamline efforts for women’s rights and gender equality across the UN system.