Countries worldwide failing to deliver gender equality

According to research unveiled this week by Equal Measures 2030, there is no country in the world on track to achieve gender equality by 2030.

The report has highlighted that women’s under-representation in Parliament, the gender pay gap and gender-based violence were among the areas all countries were struggling to tackle. Currently within the UK three-quarters of companies pay men more than women with 45% of UK companies having reported that their gender pay gap had in fact increased.

Hephzi Pemberton, Founder of Equality Group said; ‘There is so much discussion around equality for women within the world of work but we are yet to see any notable changes. To close the gender pay gap businesses need to start addressing the systematic issue that is the inequality of opportunity for women, particularly at senior/management levels. One of the most effective ways to close the gap is to get women into the highest paid positions – that’s where the chasm really occurs. Businesses need to assess their current policies and produce affirmative action and enforcement measures to ensure sustained action and progression.

“Within the UK alone, the gender pay gap is set to be closed in approximately 36 years. Luckily, this issue can be at least partially addressed with some fairly straightforward best practice policies. It is only by assessing current policies that all workplaces can produce affirmative action and enforcement measures to ensure sustained action and progression for women at all levels of the professional ladder. Critical action is required imminently at both an industry and policy level to begin to increase gender pay equality.”

Read the full report here.