UN Women has warned in its latest report on the state of gender equality worldwide that approximately 426 million women and girls will be living in extreme poverty in 2026.
In a report titled Gender Snapshot 2026, the organization said that progress towards achieving gender equality is facing significant setbacks. At the current rate, it would take approximately 171 years to achieve gender equality worldwide.
The report examines the situation of women and girls within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to the report’s findings, in 2024, approximately 9.9 percent of women were living in extreme poverty, compared with 9.5 percent of men. This gap is particularly pronounced among young people aged 15 to 34.
The report also shows that women remain underrepresented in positions of power and decision-making. They hold only 27.4 percent of seats in national parliaments and 19 percent of ministerial positions in economic ministries. Of the 175 presidents of supreme courts worldwide, only 31 are women.
Regarding violence against women, the report’s findings indicate that nearly one-third of women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives. Furthermore, over the past year, 316 million women have experienced physical or sexual violence perpetrated by an intimate partner.
Inequality in the labour market also persists. On average, women and girls spend 2.5 times more time than men on unpaid domestic and care work. The labour force participation rate among women aged 25 to 54 stands at 63.9 percent, compared with 92 percent for men.
UN Women has also warned about declining financial resources allocated to gender equality. According to the report, funding for women’s rights organizations has decreased by 28 percent, while financial support for gender equality programmes has fallen to its lowest level since 2021.
The report emphasizes that none of the indicators under Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), which focuses on achieving gender equality, is currently on track to be achieved by 2030.
In response to this situation, UN Women has called for increased investment in social protection systems, healthcare services, education, and the strengthening of institutions advocating for women’s rights.
This comes as women and girls in Afghanistan continue to face widespread restrictions on education, employment, and social participation.
