According to the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, or UN Women, 113 countries have never had a female Head of State, and only 26 do today.
In a new gender equality report released on Monday, UN Women stated that women should be prioritized when countries go to the polls in 2024.
The new data comes as the world commemorates the International Day for Women in Diplomacy, which recognizes the various ways women are breaking down barriers and making a difference in the area of diplomacy.
“As many countries head to the polls this year, we must all put women first, at the pinnacle of power, where and when it matters the most,” said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahou.
As of January 1, 2024, women account for less than one-third of Cabinet ministers in 141 countries. Seven countries have no female cabinet members. Meanwhile, only 23% of ministerial positions are held by women.
Women are likewise underrepresented as Permanent Representatives to the United Nations.
As of May 2024, women held 25% of senior ambassador positions in New York, 35% in Geneva, and 33.5% in Vienna.
“Our work is motivated by the notion that when women lead, the world benefits all people and the earth. Women’s equitable participation in administration and leadership is critical to improving life for all,” Ms Bahous stated.
According to her, electing and promoting women to leadership roles displays strong political will for gender equality and a collective commitment to addressing the world’s current difficulties.
She went on: “As we prepare to mark 30 years since the passage of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the world’s most progressive blueprint for advancing women’s rights, UN Women continues to work to ensure women lead and thrive in shaping and driving positive change, including through occupying the most senior positions of power.”
In 1995, the Beijing conference built on political agreements established at three earlier global conferences on women, consolidating five decades of legal gains aimed at ensuring women’s equality in law and practice.
It aimed to accelerate the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women and to remove barriers to women’s active participation in all aspects of public and private life by ensuring a full and equal share of economic, social, cultural, and political decision-making.
