UN, Mar 11. - The 68th session of the United Nations will begin today in the midst of what experts describe as a crossroads for Gender equality.
The Organization's largest annual meeting for the empowerment of women will run until March 22 with discussions focused on accelerating the achievement of equality, addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.
The event brings together representatives of governments, civil society organizations, specialists and activists from around the world to agree on actions and investments that can end women's poverty and advance the agenda outlined in this regard.
According to figures from the organization, 10.3 percent of this population group today lives in extreme poverty and are poorer than men.
In response, the UN considers progress towards eradicating this scourge 26 times faster to be essential to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030, but warns that this will not be possible without investment.
Available data on 48 developing economies shows that an additional $360 billion a year is needed to achieve gender equality and women's empowerment across all key global goals, including ending poverty and hunger.
In 2023, 2.6 billion people will go to the polls to cast their votes, so they have the power to demand greater investment in gender equality.
Money spent on programs that address disparities and boost women's agency and leadership pays huge dividends, including more action to end poverty.
More than 100 million women and girls could be lifted out of this situation if governments prioritized education and family planning, fair and equal wages, and increased social benefits. At the same time, almost 300 million jobs could be created by 2035 through investments in care services.
If gender gaps in employment were closed, gross domestic product per capita could increase by 20 percent in all regions, according to the UN. (Text and photo: PL)
