UN Report: Women’s rights under threat, gender discrimination persists worldwide

NEW YORK — Thirty years after adopting a historic blueprint to achieve gender equality, women’s and girls’ rights are increasingly under attack, and gender discrimination remains deeply entrenched in economies and societies, the United Nations reported.

The report revealed that nearly one-quarter of governments worldwide reported a decline in women’s rights last year.

While some progress has been made in areas such as girls’ education and access to family planning, the report highlighted alarming statistics: one woman or girl is killed every 10 minutes by an intimate partner or family member, and cases of conflict-related sexual violence have risen by 50% since 2022.

Released ahead of International Women’s Day, 8 March, the report also noted that only 87 countries currently have women in leadership positions.

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“Globally, women’s rights are under attack,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said. “Instead of mainstreaming gender equality, we are seeing a mainstreaming of misogyny.”

Guterres urged the international community to remain steadfast in its commitment to making human rights, equality, and empowerment a reality for all women and girls, emphasizing that these values are fundamental to achieving a better future for everyone, everywhere.