Gender equality in politics is still a long way off

We are nowhere close to UN’s goals for 2030, Katja Iversen and Alison Holder write.

Twenty-six out of 195. That is the number of countries with women foreign ministers. This week, as female foreign ministers from around the world convene in Montreal for the first meeting of its kind, 87 per cent of countries didn’t have the option to send a representative.

The unsavoury numbers come just three years after governments globally made a promise to eradicate gender inequality by 2030 through the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. But if we look at women’s representation in the halls of power — from parliament to corporate board rooms — as a proxy for gender equality, it’s clear there is a long road ahead to reaching the 2030 goals. And now is the time to double down on our efforts.

The foreign ministry is not the only political post in which women leaders are scarce. Data from the Inter-Parliament Union shows that as of 2017, women only made up 6.4 per cent of the world’s heads of states or governments, and only 18.3 per cent of government ministers.

The problem is, in part, that strong gender stereotypes about leadership persist in all regions of the world. It also comes down to limited opportunities. Prevailing social norms and cultural attitudes discourage girls’ and young women’s political activism, which in turn limits their willingness and agency to become involved in politics.

When it comes to solutions, the Canadian government has been something of a rarity in its work toward gender equality: recently pushing efforts to close the gender pay gap; increasing investment for girls’ education by a sum of $400 million; as well as increasing funding for women’s organizations across the country. Canada’s commitment to getting more women in positions of power is also evident from its efforts to form the first gender-balanced cabinet, appointing women to take on key portfolios often less considered to be a priority for gender equality, including justice, employment and trade.

Globally, we’ve also seen gender equality take on the spotlight this year — with the first Gender Equality Advisory Council to a G7 presidency and movements such as #MeToo and Ni Una Menos inspiring action around girls’ and women’s leadership and representation. But while progress on key areas of gender equality is being made, is it enough to get us through to the finish line in 2030? The answer is a resounding no.

Gender-equal societies are healthier, better educated and safer. Gender equal companies deliver stronger financial results. The costs of not addressing gender gaps are enormous — the World Bank showed, for example, that child marriage will cost developing countries trillions of dollars over the next decade or so.

Gender-equal governments are also more likely to be accountable to women and girls: Women officials are more likely than men to champion issues of gender equality and to implement policies regarding gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health rights, parental leave and childcare, pensions and electoral reform to make politics more inclusive. Progress in one area of gender equality, like greater political participation, has a knock-on effect on many other areas, including health, education and more that bring lasting benefits to communities, countries and entire economies.

Since what gets measured has a better chance of getting done, the use of data and evidence will be key to driving accountability and action on gender equality. This is particularly true when gender- and age-disaggregated data are in the hands of — and used effectively by — girls’ and women’s movements and advocates.

If we want to galvanize political will and policy attention that translate words on paper into positive and tangible change for girls and women, we need data as one of the tools to push gender equality to the top of the policy and political agenda. Next year, when Minister Chrystia Freeland hosts the same meeting of women foreign ministers, will her invite list be longer? With 2030 inching closer, we must push to make it so. If we want to achieve lasting and positive impact for girls and women, we need to make sure women secure and keep their rightful place at the political table.

Gender-equal societies are healthier, better educated and safer.