International Women’s Day Celebrated Amidst UN Report Highlighting Declining Women’s Rights in Many Countries

As the world celebrates International Women’s Day today, a new report from the United Nations has revealed concerning trends regarding the situation of women in one-quarter of the world’s countries, showing a decline in their rights and status.

According to the latest report by UN Women, the past year has seen a deterioration in women’s rights due to climate change and the erosion of democracy. The report states that weakening democratic institutions and a rising backlash against gender equality have led to a damaging impact on key issues surrounding women’s rights.

The report also highlights that nearly a quarter of countries have responded negatively to the recommendations of the 1995 global conference on women. Despite this, progress in implementing these recommendations has been slow and has yielded mixed results over the last 30 years.

While there has been an increase in women’s representation in parliaments globally, the report states that men still make up three-quarters of parliamentary members. On the other hand, the number of women benefiting from social protection has risen, but still, 2 billion women and girls remain deprived of social security.

The report also sheds light on gender disparities in employment, revealing that only 63% of women aged 25-54 are employed, compared to 92% of men in the same age group. It further notes that challenges such as the global pandemic, conflicts, climate change, and advancements in technology continue to pose significant risks to gender equality.

One alarming statistic from the report reveals that in the last decade, sexual violence during conflicts has increased by 50%, with 95% of the victims being children and young girls. The number of women living in conflict zones in 2023 has reached 61.2 million, an increase of 54% compared to 2010.

The report also highlights a new form of gender-based online violence, with one in three women globally experiencing physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.

In response to these alarming trends, the United Nations has outlined a multilateral plan to eliminate gender inequality, which includes improving access to new technologies, addressing climate justice, investing in poverty reduction, increasing women’s participation in public affairs, and combating gender-based violence.