GENDER EQUALITY AT THE HEART OF A PROSPEROUS AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

Beyond being a matter of justice, gender equality is crucial for the establishment of prosperous societies committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, there is still a long way to go. The report "Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2025" (UN, 2025) warns that, without substantial changes, in 2030, 351 million women and girls will remain in extreme poverty, facing discrimination and violence. The "Global Gender Gap Report 2025," in turn, corroborates this scenario, projecting a 123-year timeline for achieving full gender parity. Currently, the global average is 68.8% (WEF, 2025).
Yes, the global data is worrying and hides significant disparities. While the Global North has a parity of 74.3%, the Global South remains between 66.0% and 66.4% (WEF, 2025). The fact is that the female experience differs substantially between these regions due to factors such as geographic location, socioeconomic status, access to education, and, among others, cultural and political contexts (WBG, 2024). That said, it is essential to acknowledge that disregarding these and many other distinctions not only masks but also compromises the understanding of how complex the challenge posed by SDG 5 is.
To address this less-than-optimistic scenario, the United Nations (UN) identifies six priority areas that require immediate action: digital inclusion, poverty eradication, zero tolerance for violence, equal decision-making power, peace and security, and climate justice (UN, 2025). One example of a positive impact is bridging the digital gender gap, which could benefit 343.5 million women and girls, lift 30 million out of poverty by 2050, and inject US$1.5 trillion into the global economy by 2030 (UN, 2025).
In view of the above, this Policy Brief aims to update data related to gender parity challenges and formulate concrete recommendations applicable to public policies and gender governance, which must be, above all, intersectional and anti-colonial governance capable of ensuring inclusive and sustainable development for all populations.