UN 
The United Nations Gender Equality Report 2026, published in April, outlines progress made toward SDG 5, noting increased female participation in politics, education, and the workforce globally. Women now hold 28% of parliamentary seats worldwide, up from 22% in 2020, and gender parity in primary and secondary education has improved significantly.
Despite these advances, the report draws attention to persistent wage gaps, underrepresentation in leadership roles, and pervasive gender-based violence. Experts stress that legal reforms alone are insufficient without cultural and structural changes to dismantle systemic discrimination.
The UN calls for enhanced multi-sectoral strategies involving governments, private sector, and communities to accelerate gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030.
