Fifteen years ago, UN Women was established with a bold mission: to drive real and lasting change for all women and girls.

In that time, the world has seen undeniable change. More girls are in school. More women sit at decision-making tables. Gender equality has been written into more laws, policies and constitutions that ever before.

But today, as UN Women marks its 15th anniversary, we are also facing an uncomfortable truth: the push for equality is losing ground.

A global survey released in March this year revealed a 60% increase in concern about the lack of progress on gender equality. It’s easy to understand why. Nearly one in four countries is seeing a backlash against women’s rights. Gender-based violence is on the rise. The digital gender divide is widening. And, alarmingly, more than 600 million women and girls now live near conflict zones.

We are simply not where we should be.

This year is significant. It marks 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the most progress and widely endorsed blueprint for women’s and girls’ rights worldwide. It also marks 25 years since the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325, recognising women’s vital role in peacebuilding. But milestones mean little without meaningful follow-through. The world stands at a crossroads. We can either recommit to the promises made – or watch hard-won gains unravel.

UN Women is choosing action. To mark our 15th anniversary, we’re calling for urgent, coordinated action across 15 critical areas. 15 steps that can help accelerate progress and march forward toward gender equality.

1. Address the backlash against women’s rights

In 2024, nearly a quarter of countries reported a backlash against women’s rights. Protecting progress required political leadership and commitment to laws, policies, and systems that actively advance — not hinder — gender equality.

2. End conflict

More than 600 million women and girls now live near conflict zones, a number that has surged more than 50% in the last decade. Greater investment in conflict prevention, mediation and peacebuilding is urgently needed.

3. Promote women in peacemaking

Peace lasts longer when women are at the table. Yet, between 2020 and 2023, women were excluded from the vast majority of peace talks. Women’s voices, leadership, and experiences are essential to building lasting peace.

4. Eradicate poverty

One in ten women and girls lives in extreme poverty. At this rate, it will take another 137 years to close the gap. Governments must adopt robust social protection policies, like cash assistance for low-income families, paid parental leave, and secure pensions.

5. End food insecurity

Despite producing a third of the world’s food, women farmers face higher rates of food insecurity. Closing the gender gap in agriculture could lift 45 million people out of hunger. It’s time to invest in women farmers and ensure fair wages across food systems.

6. End violence against women

Every 10 minutes, a woman or girl is killed at the hands of a partner or close relative. In 2023 alone, 85,000 women and girls were killed intentionally. In Australia, one woman is violently killed every four days. We urgently need stronger laws, more support for survivors, and increased funding for the organisations working on the front lines to end gender-based violence.

7. Promote women’s access to the economy

Women spend 2.5 times more hours on unpaid care than men. Investing in care systems can unlock economic opportunities and create nearly 300 million jobs by 2035.

8. Eradicate the gender pay gap

Globally, women still earn 20% less than men for work of equal value. In Australia, the national gender pay gap sits at 11.9%, meaning for every dollar on average a man earns, a woman earns 88 cents. Governments and employers must deliver on equal pay, tackle workplace discrimination, and create pathways for women into higher-paying roles.

9. Protect the planet

Climate change deepens inequality. Without action, 158 million more women and girls could be pushed into extreme poverty by 2050. Women’s leadership makes climate policies more effective – but only 28% of environment ministers are women. This must change.

10. Increase women’s leadership and political participation

Today, nearly three-quarters of lawmakers are men, and 103 countries have never had a woman head of state. Quotas work, but achieving real change means dismantling the social norms, stigma, and violence that still hold women back from leadership.

11. Dismantle discriminatory legal frameworks

In more than half the countries, women face legal barriers to participating fully in the workforce of public life. Governments must end legal discrimination and invest in laws that protect and advance women’s rights.

12. Close the gender digital gap

The digital divide is leaving women behind. In 2024, 277 million more men than women had access to the internet. Closing the gap is essential for women’s access to education, economic opportunities, and leadership in science and technology.

13. Ensure gender parity in education

Over 119 million girls remain out of school, and 39% of young women never complete secondary education. Education is key to unlocking opportunity. Governments must invest in safe, inclusive learning environments for every girl.

14. End maternal mortality

Every day, nearly 800 women die from preventable pregnancy-related causes – the majority in conflict-affected countries. We must increase access to safe, quality and affordable sexual and reproductive healthcare for all women and girls.

15. Increase gender financing

Only 4% of development funding is directed to programs with gender equality as the principal objective. Progress can’t happen without investment. Governments, businesses and donors must step up.

The challenges ahead are real, but so is the opportunity. History shows us that when we invest in women and girls, entire communities and economies thrive.

Fifteen years of UN Women has delivered progress, but it has also highlighted how fragile that progress can be. Now is the time for bold leadership and unwavering commitment to advance gender equality for women and girls in Australia, across our region, and around the world.

The time for action is now.

Join us in driving change, supporting feminist movements, and building a future of equality for all. Your support can help protect hard-won progress and create real opportunities for women and girls.

Donate today, partner with us, or take action — because equality can’t wait. Learn more at **unwomen.org.au.**

Republished from UN Women Australia, 1 July 2025

The views expressed in this article may or may not reflect those of Pearls and Irritations.