10 years ago, the World Bank Group published the World Development Report 2012: Gender Equality and Development (WDR2012). Over the last decade, progress has been achieved in several key areas. Maternal mortality has decreased by around 10 percent, girls’ enrollment in secondary school has increased by 5 percent. The Women Business and the Law index shows that women’s economic rights have improved, and there are now more women than ever before in national parliaments across the globe.
However, progress has been slow in many important domains. Female labor force participation rates fall well below 40 percent in low-income countries. Significant gender wage gaps persist, and, in many countries, women are still clustered into sectors and occupations typically associated with lower profits, absence of work contracts, and lack of protection. The gender digital divide threatens women and girls’ access to quality healthcare, education, jobs, and civic participation. Women continue to be responsible for the bulk of child and elder care in the home and remain underrepresented as leaders, especially at the highest levels. Globally, violence against women and girls remains widespread.
To drive transformative change, the World Bank Group’s yearlong Gender Equality and Development +10: Accelerate Equality initiative will explore the important progress made and lessons learned over the last 10 years, while strengthening partnerships with a diverse group of stakeholders on this critical topic. Holistic solutions required to close the most stubborn gender gaps will depend on dedicated efforts not only from policy makers and other client counterparts, but also from the private sector, financial institutions, researchers, multilaterals, and – perhaps most importantly – the local governments, NGOs, women’s movements, and other civil society groups that work directly with communities.
For more information and calendar of events visit here.