The 2024 SDG Gender Index Report states that no country has reached the UN’s vision of gender equality set for 2030. In fact, between 2019 and 2022, nearly 40% of countries with over a billion women and girls saw no progress and a decline in gender equality. The index, which measures progress toward gender equality across 139 countries, assigned its lowest rating of “very poor” to 45 countries, including much of West, Central, and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia such as Bangladesh and Myanmar.
In total, 857 million women and girls live in these “very poor” rated nations, facing severe challenges like forced pregnancies, child marriages, and bans from secondary education. Moreover, another 1.5 billion women live in countries with a “poor” rating. Switzerland remains the only country with a “very good” score.
This troubling data raises a significant concern. Are we witnessing stagnation or a setback in gender equality? Are the efforts to achieve gender equality heading in the wrong direction?
What is the SDG gender index?
The 2024 SDG Gender Index, created by EM2030, provides a clear picture of global progress on gender equality as outlined in the 2030 UN Agenda. This Index covers 56 gender issues across 14 of the 17 global goals in 139 countries and five regions. It tracks progress from 2015, when the Sustainable Development Goals were adopted, to 2019 (just before the COVID-19 pandemic) and up to 2022, which provides the latest data for most indicators.
The Index includes 96% of the world’s women population in 2022, based on UN estimates for 188 countries. The majority of indicators in the Index (66%) specifically focus on the conditions of girls and women. While the remaining indicators may not directly relate to gender, they still address issues that research indicates disproportionately impact the lives of girls and women.
Current trends in women’s rights: What the SDG gender index data shows
Nearly every country in the world pledged to achieve gender equality by 2030 as part of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) initiative. However, recent years have shown a lack of progress on women’s rights. The report also says that 614 million women and girls lived in conflict-affected countries in 2022, an alarming 50% increase from 2017.
The report also reveals a disturbing trend: a significant regression in women’s rights across several countries, including Poland, the US, Iran, and Afghanistan. In Iran, authorities have not only jailed women for protesting against the mandatory hijab law but have also resorted to violence.
The Taliban rule and the armed conflicts
Under Taliban rule, women and girls in Afghanistan experience what human rights groups call “gender apartheid.” This situation restricts them from attending secondary school, accessing many types of paid employment, and even speaking or showing their faces outside their homes. Meanwhile, Poland and the US have taken a step back on abortion rights, with 14 states in the US enacting near-total bans, as if women’s autonomy is a negotiable commodity.
Armed conflicts across various regions are making it harder for women to gain access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Additionally, the climate crisis disproportionately affects women, especially in vulnerable communities.
The report describes a “dismal scenario,” indicating that global gender inequality might worsen by 2030 compared to 2015. If current trends persist, achieving gender equality will take much longer than anticipated, potentially not until the 22nd century.
How is India performing on the gender equality front?
India has made progress on its overall sustainable development goals (SDGs) over the past two years. However, the country’s performance regarding gender inequality has stagnated. The 2024 SDG Gender Index shows that the representation of women in ministerial and senior government positions in India remains painfully low. Since 2015, one of the most concerning indicators has been the decline in the proportion of women aged 15 and older who can afford basic food and shelter.
In 2015, India received an SDG Gender Index score of 56.5 and a rating of “very poor.” By 2019, the score barely increased to 59.1, showing no major improvement. In 2022, the index score rose to 61.2, landing the country with a “poor” rating.
In the 2023-24 assessment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), India received an overall score of 71, indicating progress in various areas. However, the country fell short in addressing gender equality, achieving a score of only 49. Alarmingly, the situation is worse across the country. Twelve states and one Union Territory scored below the national average of 49 out of 100, revealing significant regional gaps in gender equality.
The need for improvement in gender equality in India
Based on past trends, India needs to improve by an average of 4.84 points each year to reach a score of 100 by 2030. Given the slow pace of improvement so far, it certainly raises concerns about whether India can realistically meet this goal within the given timeframe. Without a strong commitment and a focused strategy, this goal may remain out of reach.
The final thoughts
Despite all the conversations about gender equality, it often feels like we are only moving backwards. Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed the alarming decline of women’s rights around the globe. Even after witnessing women protesting and fighting tirelessly for their rights, progress appears stagnant.
No country has managed to implement the necessary laws to prohibit discrimination, prevent gender-based violence, ensure equal rights in marriage and divorce, guarantee equal pay and provide full access to sexual and reproductive health. When can we expect the real, much-needed change? Will we continue to wait until it’s too late to make a difference?
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content, which we broadly define as media, policies, law, and history—encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and gender-queer individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity.
