Gender equality for all people is a matter of fairness and justice. Gender equality is a principle of international law recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

It is also essential for development. Growing evidence shows how removing gender barriers unlocks economic productivity, reduces poverty, deepens social cohesion, and enhances wellbeing and prosperity for current and future generations. Women’s participation and leadership improves the management of natural resources, strengthens resilience, and makes economies more competitive.

When women thrive, countries and communities thrive. Long-run income per capita would be almost 20% higher if women were employed at the same rate as men.   

And yet, progress on gender equality Sustainable Development Goal 5 is worryingly off-track.

Urgent action is needed to address gender-based violence (GBV). As of 2018, one in every three women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence by a non-partner. Gender-based violence hurts survivors, their families, communities, and entire societies – often across generations, undermining quality of life and livelihoods.

Expanding economic opportunities for women can drive inclusive growth. Women have near equal access to education, but average female labor force participation has been stagnant since 1990 at 53% versus 80% for men. On average across countries, long-run GDP per capita would be almost 20% higher if gender employment gaps were closed.

Women’s leadership enhances long-term economic, environmental, and social outcomes, and strengthens institutions.  Research has correlated higher net profit margins for firms and lower CO2 emissions with more women in decision-making roles. The global share of formal firms with majority woman ownership or a woman as top manager is 25%

Source: https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/gender/overview