Our Scans · (LF.5) 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] Legislative work, engagement with the UN on policy development, gender equality, youth engagement, leadership renewal and inter-cooperative collaboration will remain priorities, alongside continued support for cooperatives operating in fragile or crisis-affected contexts. ICA
• [New] There are increased risks of gender-based violence, child marriage and exploitation. Secretary-General
• [New] The Trump-Vance administration last month announced it will expand the global gag rule, which bans U.S. foreign aid for groups that support abortion and/or offer abortion-related services, to include organizations that promote gender ideology. Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, G
• In 2026, nearly one-third of surveyed philanthropy leaders plan to scale back racial equality initiatives, with reductions also planned for environmental justice and gender equality. The Conference Board
• This month, House Republicans passed one of the most extreme anti-trans bills in modern American history, advancing legislation that would criminalize gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth and threaten doctors with severe penalties for providing evidence-based treatment. Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, G
• Trans people are not extremists, nor are they grooming children or threatening the fabric of American identity - they are human beings for whom gender affirming care is lifesaving. Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, G
• The companies that lead in 2026 will be the ones whose boards combine gender diversity with deep technology fluency. Forbes
• Women rights defenders face additional risks online, including technology-facilitated gender-based violence: In a global survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit, 38% of women reported personal experience with violence online, from hacking and stalking to image-based sexual abuse. Just Security
• As pressure mounts and we see more drive from governments, investors, and professional bodies to address longstanding gender health gaps, 2026 could be the time we start to see tangible change. FemTech World
• The European Union has announced it will invest 55 million pesos (US $ 3 million) to finance five Mexican projects to combat gender violence in 2026. Mexico News Daily
• The vision of Thailand's WPS NAP is clear and ambitious: gender equality is a key driving force in preventing and resolving conflict and in addressing threats to human security, ultimately leading to sustainable peace and development. Peace News Network
• WORKFORCE Mental health takes center stage: CEOs elevate it above gender equality and work conditions A worldwide priority: CEOs across the US, Europe, and Japan rank mental health as one of the top three social issues they will prioritize in 2026. The Conference Board
• The rise of anti-gender rights movements is jeopardising legal protections for women and girls around the world, threatening to undo decades of legal progress. Equality Now
• As Pakistan enters 2026 as the world's fifth most populous country, with a population exceeding 225 million, high population growth and fertility rates, persistent gender inequality, and rising climate vulnerability, the urgency of addressing population dynamics has intensified. Dawn
• If Amendment 3 passes in Missouri, gender transition surgeries and the prescription of cross-sex hormones and puberty-blockers for children under the age of 18 will be banned. AOL
• Researchers found that even after controlling for migrants' age, gender, education, employment status, and the intensity of U.S. border enforcement, crossing through contested cartel territory measurably increased their risk of experiencing multiple hazards. StudyFinds
• In 2026, EU countries will enact rules mandating the inclusion of pay ranges in advertised positions, and in 2027, companies in the EU must report their mean and median gender pay gaps. financialpost
• By 2026, the intersection of gender-driven tech leadership and AI workplace integration is not just a social imperative but a strategic investment opportunity. Ainvest
• Health officials from the Trump administration announced several moves Thursday that will have the effect of essentially banning gender-affirming care for transgender young people, even in states where it is still legal. NPR

Last updated: 09 February 2026