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To close gender gaps in Arab states
A newly launched United Nations report has sounded the alarm on the urgent need for action to advance gender equality in the Arab region, warning that despite some positive strides, progress remains far too slow to meet global commitments.
Titled ‘Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: A Gender Snapshot of the Arab Region 2024’, the report was released by the UN Women Regional Office for Arab States in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). It provides a comprehensive overview of how the region is faring on gender-related indicators tied to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
The data reveals a mixed picture. On the one hand, women’s participation in political life has grown, with women now occupying 18 per cent of parliamentary seats in the region—more than double the share from a decade ago. Health outcomes have also improved significantly, with maternal mortality falling by 45 per cent, from 246 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 139 in 2020.
Education outcomes show encouraging trends. Compared to 2015, an additional 5.5 million girls are now completing each level of education from primary to lower secondary. The gender gap in primary education completion has narrowed to three percentage points. Notably, girls outperform boys in secondary education, with a 68 per cent completion rate compared to 66 per cent for boys.
The presence of women in STEM fields is also growing. Twenty-three per cent of employed women now work in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics-related roles—a sector that men have historically dominated.
But the report’s core message is clear: these gains are insufficient. Of all the gender-related targets under SDG 5, only one—ownership of a mobile phone—has met its goal. At current rates, it would take an astonishing 115 years to close the gender gap in labour force participation. While the global average of women employed or seeking employment is 49 per cent, in the Arab States, it stands at just 20 per cent.
Other figures are equally troubling. Nearly 30 million girls in the region were married before age 18. Women continue to bear the brunt of unpaid domestic and care work, devoting 4.7 times more daily hours to such responsibilities than men. These imbalances contribute to a broader system of inequality that stifles both individual potential and regional development.
As policymakers gather in Beirut for the Arab Forum for Sustainable Development (AFSD), the report calls for a renewed commitment to gender equality. It urges leaders to act decisively and collaboratively to dismantle long-standing barriers facing women and girls across the region.
Dr Moez Doraid, Acting Regional Director of UN Women for the Arab States, emphasised the moment’s urgency.
“Today’s report reveals an undeniable truth: progress is achievable, but it is not happening fast enough,” said Doraid. “We must continue to push forward to fulfil the commitments made by world leaders in the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing 30 years ago and the 2030 Agenda. Let us unite to dismantle the barriers women and girls continue to face and create a future where women’s empowerment is not just a goal but a reality.”
The economic argument for equality is compelling. The report notes that ending child marriage in the Arab region could boost annual economic growth by around 3 per cent, adding up to USD 3 trillion to the regional economy by 2050.
Mehrinaz El-Awady, who leads ESCWA’s Gender Justice, Population and Inclusive Development Cluster, echoed the call for urgency.
“This report is a wake-up call—not only highlighting the strides made but also the glaring gaps that remain,” said El-Awady. “Achieving gender equality in the Arab region requires urgency, commitment, and bold action. We owe it to every woman and girl to turn promises into progress, and progress into lasting change.”
The report also outlines a roadmap for closing gender gaps across all 17 SDGs. Key recommendations include accelerating legal reforms, investing in women’s empowerment, and ending systemic discrimination against women and girls—critical priorities echoed during the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, celebrated in March 2025.
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to promoting gender equality and empowering women. A global advocate for the rights of women and girls, it was created to accelerate progress and meet their needs worldwide. Image credit: ESCWA
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