Global Scans · Gender Equality · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower women and girls.

• [New] Without tackling the persistent issues of graduate unemployment, informal work, and gender disparity, India's potential for sustainable development may remain unfulfilled. EduRev
• [New] Reducing gender gaps in STEM education could contribute up to 820 billion of euros to EU GDP by 2050 and could create over 1 million of new jobs. European Institute for Gender Equality
• [New] The Trump administration's executive orders described gender-affirming care as chemical mutilation and transgender identity itself as a threat to children's wellbeing. University Press of Kansas
• There are changes taking effect in 2026, including new questions about gender and sexuality, which one expert says will make it probably the most progressive census Australia has ever seen. The Guardian
• The brisk growth of artificial intelligence may worsen existing gender inequalities and pose new risks to the human rights of women and girls worldwide. Yale Law School
• As artificial intelligence reshapes how people work, communicate and access information, UN Women warned on Monday that the technology is reproducing old gender stereotypes, which amplify online abuse and leave women out of the decisions that will define the digital future. UN News
• Scouting America will modify its policy to make clear that membership will be based solely on biological sex at birth and not gender identity. The Guardian
• If organizations promoting gender equality and women's rights fail to update their strategies to today's global political environment, there is a real risk that many of the hard-won legal, social, and political gains for women will be slowly hollowed out. Foreign Affairs Magazine
• The European Commission's new Gender Equality Strategy for 2026-2030 aims to advance equality between women and men across the EU and address persistent challenges such as gender pay gaps, unequal caring responsibilities and gender-based violence. European Economic and Social Committee
• The EESC opinion 'Gender equality strategy 2026-2030' underlines that gender equality is not only a matter of fundamental rights, but also of Europe's economic resilience and competitiveness. European Economic and Social Committee
• The gender gap is approximately 5.3 years, meaning women born in the U.S. can expect to live more than five years longer than men on average. North American Community Hub
• Female human rights defenders in Somalia continue to face disproportionate risks, it said, including arbitrary arrest, judicial harassment, intimidation, online abuse and gender-based discrimination, aimed at excluding them from civic and political participation. The Guardian
• Australia and the United Kingdom reaffirm the central role of gender equality in inclusive growth and climate resilience, and will deepen collaboration on gender-responsive climate finance in line with international commitments. Mirage News

Last updated: 23 August 2026