Global Scans · Gender Equality · Weekly Summary

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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] Gender biases among international trading partners may raise additional barriers, underscoring the importance of Canada's efforts to promote equitable trade opportunities for women entrepreneurs. GAC
• [New] LGBTQ + youth are at higher risk of suicide, including a 2024 analysis by the CDC that found 26% transgender and gender-questioning students attempted suicide in the past year. Orange County Register
• [New] Although there were significant diversity improvements around the world, digital gender biases in AI has the potential to bring back restrictions from the historical past. NHSJS
• [New] The Supreme Court is expected to rule in coming weeks on a major case regarding transgender people - deciding whether Tennessee can enforce a ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The Dallas Morning News
• [New] Despite significant advances in global connectivity and technological innovation, persistent and widening gender gaps threaten to undermine the potential of emerging technologies to advance sustainable development. Women at the Table
• [New] In addition to closing gender gaps being the right thing to do, analysis by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development indicates that it could boost GDP by an average of 9% across OECD countries by 2060. Reserve Bank of Australia
• Retirement security in the United States varies sharply across class, race, and gender, with low-income workers, women, and people of colour facing the greatest risks. Forbes
• Some advisories warn members of the LGBTQ community about increasing hostility in the United States and potential pitfalls awaiting people whose passports record a gender identity different from their birth sex. The Atlantic
• The Welsh Government has a long-standing commitment to tackle gender-based violence as demonstrated through the groundbreaking Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015, and the National VAWDASV Strategy for 2022-26. GOV.UK
• Specific forms of sexual and gender-based violence - such as forced public stripping and nudity, sexual harassment including threats of rape, as well as sexual assault - comprise part of the Israeli army's standard operating procedures toward Palestinians. Palestine Chronicle
• Among Venezuelan migrants in South America, factors such as discrimination, unstable employment, and gender-based violence have shown to further increase mental health risks. BioMed Central
• Venezuelan migrants in South America are at heightened risk for mental distress due to factors such as discrimination, unstable employment, and gender-based violence. BioMed Central
• The opening of the NDA to women cadets marks a significant step towards gender equality in the Indian military, providing women the opportunity to pursue a career path that includes leadership and command roles. EDUREV.IN
• Police in Georgia (the country, not the US state) are increasingly using gender-based violence including sexist insults, threats of sexual violence and unlawful and degrading strip searches against peaceful protesters. The Guardian
• Addressing menstrual hygiene through policy interventions could contribute to closing the gender gap in labour force participation, which currently stands at a mere 24% in India. OdishaPlus
• Specific forms of sexual and gender-based violence - such as forced public stripping and nudity, sexual harassment including threats of rape, as well as sexual assault - comprise part of the Israeli Security Forces' standard operating procedures toward Palestinians. Middle East Monitor
• The World Economic Forum currently forecasts that it will take five generations to reach full gender parity. AlphaWeek
• Women taking part in public demonstrations are especially at risk of facing gender-based violence, including sexist insults, threats of sexual violence, and unlawful and degrading strip searches. - JURIST - News
• Closing gender gaps in employment, including political leadership, could add $28 trillion to the global GDP by 2025. Yourstory
• Efforts to address the gender digital divide include initiatives like Vodacom's Code Like a Girl Programme, which teaches coding skills to young girls, and the Mobile Gender Gap Report suggesting that closing the mobile internet gender gap could add $1.3 trillion to global GDP by 2030. DeepNewz
• Increasing conflict and crises around the world have exacerbated pre-existing inequalities that increase the risk of gender-based violence for women, girls, persons with disabilities, marginalized racial and ethnic communities, LGBTQI + persons, and other vulnerable groups. United States Mission to the United Nations
• Closing the Digital Gender Divide: Women around the world still face barriers to accessing technology, including limited internet access, fewer opportunities for digital education, and gender-based biases in tech industries. Sakshi Post

Last updated: 29 June 2025