One in three institutions established to advance gender equality have experienced a weakening of their power over the past two years, according to a United Nations report.
The “Gender Snapshot 2026” by UN Women and UN DESA indicates that no target under the Sustainable Development Goal for gender equality is projected to be met by 2030.
Funding for gender equality has reached its lowest point since 2021. Funding specifically for women’s rights organizations decreased by 28% between 2023 and 2024. Additionally, around one in four institutional mechanisms for gender equality had their operating budgets cut, and nearly one in ten lost budget control entirely.
The report also highlights that women remain underrepresented in leadership roles. Six in seven countries are led by men, and men hold most top positions in defence, finance, corporate, and judicial sectors. Globally, women hold only 6% of corporate chief executive positions.
Source: Down To Earth