Equality between women and men is a fundamental value and human right, enshrined in international law and the European Union’s treaties and legislation. It is a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
Widespread evidence shows that gender equality is associated with faster economic development, higher income per capita, more efficient and effective businesses, more sustainable management of natural resources, social cohesion, peacebuilding and more stable societies overall.
Equality between women and men is a fundamental value and human right, enshrined in international law and the European Union’s treaties and legislation. It is a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
Widespread evidence shows that gender equality is associated with faster economic development, higher income per capita, more efficient and effective businesses, more sustainable management of natural resources, social cohesion, peacebuilding and more stable societies overall.
Taking action now to advance gender equality could add $13 trillion to global gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030. In the European Union, improving gender equality would lead to a 6.1-9.6% increase in EU GDP per capita, or €1.95 trillion to €3.15 trillion, and an additional 10.5 million jobs by 2050, which would benefit both women and men.
However, the unprecedented economic and social disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic not only overturned decades of progress in gender equality and women’s economic rights and opportunities, but also widened gender-related poverty gaps. It could take another 132 years to close the global gender gap, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2022.
