From policy and governance to finance and technology, each country operates differently across various aspects of public life. However, there is one commonality: A lack of women leaders and representatives. According to a new UN Women report, gender parity in national parliaments will take another 63 years, and, at the current rate of progress, equal rights and opportunities for women will not be achieved for another 171 years.
Currently, women hold only 27.4 per cent of parliamentary seats globally. Moreover, their representation in national Cabinets has fallen to 22.4 per cent in 2026 after peaking at 23.3 per cent in 2024, signalling the fragility of growth in women’s representation in politics. Despite the report showing evidence of improved Sustainable Development Goal outcomes in regions led by women, key portfolios such as the economy, health, education and defence lack women’s participation. Globally, only 19.5 per cent of economy ministers and 26.3 per cent of health ministers are women.
