Experts unite to accelerate gender equality

Women and girls continue to face discrimination, gender stereotypes and societal biases dictating their place in society, their roles and their responsibilities. 

Women are being held back. At current rates, it will take an additional 137 years to end extreme poverty among women. Women’s participation continues to lag in political representation and the labour market. When women do participate, they find narrow avenues for advancement. For example, at current rates, achieving gender parity in management positions will require another 176 years. 

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls – is a promise to address this inequality. It includes commitments to end violence against women and girls, and also harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation, targets on which the world has seen progress. 

This month, UN DESA is bringing together experts who find solutions for tackling gender inequalities. They include researchers, activists, youth leaders and members of the private sector. At an Expert Group Meeting on SDG 5, they will take stock of where we are in achieving the SDG 5 targets. They will discuss the persistent structural barriers that we face and offer solutions and ideas for faster progress.

In July, when UN Member States meet in New York at the High-level Political Forum (HLPF), government officials and ministers will agree on how to accelerate SDG 5 and other SDGs that are under review this year. 

The Expert Group Meeting will offer up ideas and possible partnerships for governments to adopt and advance. The expertise of researchers and on-the-ground practitioners on how to solve the persistent problems in gender equality will be an invaluable input for countries trying to make progress on this goal. 

Learn more about the Expert Group Meeting: https://sdgs.un.org/HLPF/2025/ThematicReviewEGMs/SDG5

Photo credit: UN Women/Karin Schermbrucker