Archive for category: Gender Equality

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Initiatives Helping Domestic Violence Survivors in Pakistan

Domestic Violence Survivors in PakistanAccording to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, about 70% of women in Pakistan have experienced domestic violence. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics reports that one in three women experiences at least one form of domestic abuse during her lifetime. Women living in poverty are more vulnerable to domestic violence, especially when they lack education and financial independence. 

Impoverished women also do not have their community or family’s support when it comes to gender-based violence. Furthermore, the police are often unwilling to help them, which further exacerbates their situation. 

Domestic Violence and the Law

This year, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari approved the Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Bill of 2026. The new law imposes stricter punitive measures for perpetrators and increases protections for those suffering from domestic violence. Under the bill, domestic violence includes acts causing bodily harm, stalking, harassment, repeated humiliation, threats of violence, false allegations, abandonment and coercion. 

It also includes threats of divorce, threats of a second marriage, sexual conduct that violates dignity, depriving someone of financial resources or restricting access to money or property. Stronger legal protections for victims and penalties for aggressors are steps toward ending domestic violence. However, they do little for women whose cases never reach the courts, whose abuse goes unreported or whose perpetrators are protected by local police. 

Thus, below are some initiatives helping domestic violence survivors in Pakistan, especially those already living in poverty. 

Panah 

The Panah Shelter Home provides refuge for survivors of domestic violence in Pakistan. It aims to rehabilitate abused women, improve their well-being and help them reintegrate into society stronger. The home provides survivors with resources, social services and access to social workers, lawyers, doctors and psychiatrists. 

Panah also equips them with skills for financial independence through literacy classes and vocational training in arts, crafts, cooking, sewing and beauty treatments. Women can also participate in recreational activities such as art therapy, yoga and games.

Bedari

Bedari is a national nongovernmental organization that addresses violence against women and children. It established the country’s first crisis center for domestic violence survivors. At first, the organization provided domestic violence survivors with resources such as legal aid, medical care, psychiatric counseling and other support services. 

Recently, Bedari launched initiatives to educate the public and raise awareness about the harms of domestic violence, aiming to denormalize abuse against women in Pakistani society. It also runs programs that empower, educate and train women to become financially independent, helping them escape abuse and poverty. These projects have impacted more than 3,000 women and girls in the Khushab and Bhakhar districts of Pakistan.

Dastak

Dastak Society is a justice center that supports survivors of domestic and gender-based violence in Pakistan through its women’s protection and child rights units. The center provides crisis management services, a 24/7 helpline, free legal assistance and shelter for survivors. Dastak Society also runs campaigns and programs to increase outreach, build capacity, raise community awareness and sensitize the public. 

These projects aim to shift sociocultural attitudes that enable domestic violence and ultimately bring an end to all violence against women.

Shirkat Gah

The Shirkat Gah Women’s Resource Center is one of Pakistan’s leading women’s rights organizations, advocating for gender equity and addressing gender-based violence. It supports survivors of domestic violence, forced marriage and sexual violence. The center also provides training and safe spaces for connection, learning and social services. 

Its goal is to help women become more resilient and better informed about their right to live free from violence.

Humqadum Mobile App

With funding from the U.N. Trust Fund, the Shirkat Gah Women’s Resource Centre, the National Commission on the Status of Women and Lahore University of Management Sciences collaborated to release a free mobile application called Humqadam. The app connects survivors of domestic and gender-based violence with existing support services across Pakistan, including legal aid and psychosocial counseling. 

It provides 24/7 support while helping break the taboo around seeking help and raising awareness of available resources.

Ending Domestic Violence in Pakistan

To conclude, several initiatives support domestic violence survivors in Pakistan, including a mobile app that connects them to available services. However, domestic violence will persist as long as gender-based violence remains normalized and widely ignored in Pakistani society. Ending domestic violence requires stronger educational initiatives and a broader societal shift in attitudes toward gender-based violence.

– Umaymah Suhail

Umaymah is based in Karachi, Pakistan and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Gender Pay Gap in Slovenia

Gender Pay Gap in SloveniaGender equality in Slovenia has been improved drastically over time, yet performance is considered lower than EU standards. Slovenia recorded a score of 58.0 points out of 100 in the gender equality index, holding 18th place in the EU. This is attributed to low performance in the domains of knowledge and power. The gender pay gap in Slovenia is regarded as one of the clearest signs that this progress has not yet been translated into an equal workplace.

Gender Disparities in Earnings and Why It Matters

 Gender disparities in earnings in Slovenia are considered among the lowest in the EU. Women who have a partner earn an average of 84% of their spouses’ earnings, while men who live with their partners earn an average of 27% more than their spouses. The European Institute for Gender Equality has reported that the gender pay gap is most pronounced for young people, foreign born individuals and couples that have children.

A small national average gap can still coexist with serious unfairness if women are overrepresented in low-paid roles or underpaid within the same jobs. Through strong transparency rules, enforcement and cultural change around caregiving and leadership, Slovenia will be crucial for Slovenia to move from a relatively small gap to genuine pay for equal work.

Improvements Over Time

The biggest improvement over time has taken place in the domain of power. Political power has increased, with a share of women on the board of the central bank. Slovenia’s score in the domain of money has also improved, which has improved the gender pay gap in terms of the distribution of earnings and income. Slovenia has recorded the third-highest score of the EU-28 in the sub-domain of economic situation, which deals with the risk of poverty and the distribution of wealth throughout the population.

Why the Gap Persists 

The gender pay gap persists in Slovenia both between employers and within the same employers. Women and men ending up in different jobs partly explains the rising job gaps. Slovenia has overtaken its regional peers’ gender pay gaps at 7.2%, alongside a high female labor force and stronger workplace equality measures. These figures are promising, but smaller gaps can sometimes reflect labor market structures where women are over-represented in low-paid sectors, rather than true career advancement or leadership roles. Persistent informal norms and expectations about gender roles keep inequality and the gender pay gap in place.

Consequences for Women in Slovenia

The gender pay gap has real consequences for women and their families. A woman who is consistently earning less than their male colleagues has less money to cover rising costs, save for emergencies or invest in housing. Over time, lower pay, as well as taking breaks for childcare, means women will have a smaller pension, leaving them at a greater risk of experiencing poverty at old age. The average man’s pension in Slovenia is 10% higher than women’s. Women who see their work as undervalued are often less likely to apply for promotions, which reinforces the idea that top positions are ‘for men.’ This cycle shows why even a relatively small national pay gap can cause huge inequalities. 

Solutions To Tackle the Gender Pay Gap

 Slovenia does not currently have a national mandatory gender pay gap reporting system for employers, but as an EU member, it will need to implement the EU Pay Transparency Directive by June 7, 2026. This will impose gender pay gap reporting and greater pay transparency in future years. These new rules will introduce structured obligations, more visibility for employees, and concrete enforcement measures, and workers will have the right to know the average pay for doing the same or equivalent work. For Slovenia, this is a huge turning point as greater transparency makes hidden gaps visible and allows women, unions and society to demand change, hence why detailed reporting is crucial.

Another initiative that the government introduced to tackle the gender pay gap is by introducing specific guidelines for gender mainstreaming in the work of ministries. This will help ministries in gender mainstreaming in their specific fields of work and specify the roles of Coordinators for Equal Opportunities of Men and Women. The goals of the resolution from 2023-2030 include reducing the gender pay gap in all areas of social life, achieving an equal division of care work between parents, and overcoming stereotypes and sexist and discriminatory practices that deepen gender inequality.

Looking to the Future

There have been huge improvements in the effort to resolve the gender pay gap in Slovenia. However, inequalities still prevail, through governments implementing a national mandatory gender pay gap reporting system as well as guidance for gender mainstreaming, Slovenia will be able to lessen the gender pay gap, ensuring a better quality of living for all people.

– Bonnie Parkinson

Bonnie is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Gender Wage Gap in Panama

Gender Wage Gap in PanamaGender equality remains a vital issue in global development. However, many countries like Panama have made significant progress towards improving opportunities for women. Over the past decades, Panama has implemented various policies and initiatives in order to decrease gender equality in the political, social and economic landscapes. Despite these efforts, wage gaps, unequal political representation and disparities continue to pose problems for women.

Key Aspects of Gender Equality

An important aspect of gender equality is the legal framework that upholds women’s rights. Panama has initiated many laws and regulations surrounding gender equality and protecting women from violence and discrimination. According to a report from the UN Women organization, there are about 88.9% of legal frameworks surrounding gender equality and the protection of women from violence in the country. These frameworks in particular signify the country’s commitment to align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Another critical aspect of gender equality is economic participation. In Panama, there is an increase of women working in labor forces, leadership roles and business and institutions. The World Bank reports that the participation of women in the labor force has steadily increased over the previous years with 54.9% in 2025. In addition, small and medium women owned enterprises significantly contribute to the national economy.

A press release by the Ministry of Labour and Workforce Development of Panama states that as per a UN Women study, the gender wage gap in Panama is about 11.5%.

One of the biggest contributors to poverty is the gender wage gap in Panama. Due to the fact that women earn lower than men, their ability to lift themselves and their loved ones decreases. Higher gender wage gaps usually indicate that women-led households tend to have higher risk of poverty. 

According to the Panama Country Gender Scorecard by the World Bank Group, in 2010, a woman in the 25th percentile would earn 75 cents per every dollar a man earned. In 2019, this gap worsened with 59 cents for every dollar.

The World Economic Forum released a 2025 report on Gender Based Gap in which Panama ranks 107th in the world based on wage equality for similar work. In 2025, the estimated earned income difference between a male and a female was $12.04.

Political Representation and Social Challenges

Although women continue to be more involved in the country’s economy, they continue to remain unrepresented in the government. According to UN Women Data, women held 22.5% of parliamentary seats in Panama. Prioritizing women in politics will ensure that more of the population has representation.

Social expectations of women are often that women are expected to commit to domestic responsibilities more than men. As per UN Women Data, women spend almost 18% of their time on household chores and unpaid care whereas men only spend 7.6% of their time. The imbalance prevents women from being encouraged and pursuing education and employment.

Solutions Over the Years

In order to resolve these disparities. Panama has developed connections with international initiatives that work on reducing gender equality. For example, the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) is a global partnership designed to close the gender wage gap. Through EPIC, Panama works with other international organizations and governments to advocate and promote economic opportunities and fair wages for women.

Post-Pandemic women had been facing significant disadvantages and lacked economic opportunities. In order to improve the economy, government representatives, specifically from the labor and employer sector created the National Plan for Equal Pay. This originated through collaboration between different government organizations as well as the support of UN Women and the International Labour Organization (ILO).

To address the gender wage gap in Panama, different ministries such as Labour and Workforce Development, Social Development and Foreign Affairs of the Republic contributed to the UNDP Gender Equality Seal for Private Sector which assists companies with addressing gender pay issues, sexual harassment and leadership opportunities for women.

Looking Ahead

Panama’s solutions to its problems regarding gender wage gaps sound promising, particularly when partnering with other reputable and impactful organizations. The country still has a long path ahead of itself to increase fairness amongst its people, but the desire for change is there and that is what is needed. 

– Hasini Muddapu

Hasini is based in Princeton, NJ, USA and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Women-Led Government Drives Gender Equality in Namibia

Gender Equality in NamibiaIn the last 18 months, Namibia has emerged as a leader of gender equality in sub-Saharan Africa. In the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Index, Namibia ranks first among African nations and 8th globally. The country’s progress reflects decades of gender-focused policies and increasing representation of women in political leadership.

The U.N., the World Economic Forum and the World Bank widely recognize that when women hold political power, they often prioritize reforms that strengthen economies and make governments more responsive to citizens’ needs. As the U.N. notes, “Women’s equal participation and leadership in political and public life are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.” 

In the wake of International Women’s Day 2026, The Borgen Project is highlighting Namibia’s women-led government and the recent reforms that demonstrate how this leadership can drive tangible social and economic progress.

Female Political Leadership in Namibia

The key factor distinguishing Namibia’s progress toward gender equality from that of other nations is the strong representation of women across its government, which has enabled significant social, economic and civic reforms. Currently, Namibia’s president, vice president, speaker of the National Assembly and eight of its 14 cabinet ministers are women. According to the U.N. Women and Inter-Parliamentary Union ranking, Namibia ranks first in the world for women’s representation in government leadership. 

This level of representation has also led to greater policy and fiscal prioritization of social reform and education, contributing to poverty reduction in the country.

Gender Equality in Namibia: Driving Policy Reform

Several reforms in Namibia have both contributed to and benefited from women’s presence in political leadership. The National Gender Policy, renewed for another decade in 2025 by the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare, strengthens gender equality by providing a framework to address the intersections of poverty, social attitudes and gender-based violence.

Since 1998, Namibia’s employment law has been shaped by the Affirmative Action Act, which promotes fair hiring practices, expands employment opportunities for women and protects against pay disparities. These measures help normalize a gender-equal workforce in which women are hired, paid and treated equally in the workplace.

Namibia is often referred to as the birthplace of the U.N.’s Women, Peace and Security agenda, which was adopted as a resolution in 2000. The country presided over its adoption 26 years ago and now has one of the world’s most gender-balanced cabinets.

Expanding Economic Opportunities for Namibian Women

The Ministry of Gender Equality’s Beijing+30 Country Report highlights Namibia’s recent progress in advancing gender equality. In economic development, the government has focused on equal pay, ending workplace harassment and improving women’s access to financial infrastructure and services. Supported by U.N. Women and the World Bank, Namibia’s Affirmative Action Act has increased women’s participation in executive, management and public service roles. 

As a result, women now represent a larger share of employed professionals than men, reflecting the impact of broader equality policies in the country. In 2014, the Namibian government adopted Gender-Responsive Budgeting Guidelines to direct public funds toward gender equality and equitable socioeconomic development for women, men and children. In practice, this has meant allocating millions of Namibian dollars to community development centers, education, agricultural infrastructure and income grants, all identified for their roles in improving the livelihoods of women and children.

However, in 2025, less than 2% of the national budget was allocated through gender-responsive budgeting. Namibia’s speaker of the National Assembly has argued that for the policy to have a lasting impact, it must be implemented consistently rather than only when the need arises, noting that “sporadic success isn’t systemic transformation.”

Education and Social Development

Primary education has been free in Namibia since 2013 and secondary education since 2016. Enrollment now stands at about 90% and the country has achieved near gender parity, with similar numbers of boys and girls attending school. In the classroom, students have access to programs that support girls’ pathways into STEM and leadership, alongside curriculum campaigns promoting girls’ rights and gender equality in Namibia.

These initiatives aim to expand educational and professional opportunities for young women, particularly in fields where they have been historically underrepresented. Research from the World Bank shows that universal education for girls is closely linked to higher future earnings, improved health outcomes and long-term poverty reduction.

What Namibia’s Progress Means Globally

The trickle-down effect of women holding political power has undoubtedly improved gender equality in Namibia. These figures have directly influenced the creation and development of gender-focused policies that target social and economic reforms nationwide. The reforms reach workplaces and classrooms, giving women and girls the knowledge, tools and institutional support to contribute to the country’s sustainable development for generations to follow.

Namibia’s experience demonstrates that sustained political commitment to gender equality can lead to measurable social and economic gains. This commitment, which itself becomes both a cause and effect of representative leadership, can move the country and the African continent closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, with women leading the charge.

– Hannah Michie

Hannah is based in Nice, France and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Closing the Gender Wage Gap in Uruguay & Poverty Reduction

Gender Wage Gap in UruguayAbout 83.3% of girls whereas 72.7% of boy’s complete lower secondary school in Uruguay as of 2023 with literacy rates almost equivalent between men and women (98.6% – 99.2%). Yet the proportion of women living in poverty (8.8%) is nearly double that of men (4.8%). As education isn’t the issue, the cause could be the gender wage gap in Uruguay.

The Gender Wage Gap in Uruguay

The gender wage gap refers to the average difference in hourly earnings between working men and women, usually expressed as a percentage. In Uruguay, INE analysis shows men generally earn up to 27% more than women. Women and girls aged 15+ also spend nearly double as much of their time doing unpaid work (19.9%) compared to men, who spend 8.4% of their time on unpaid work according to UN Women.

Workers in vulnerable employment are the least likely to have formal working contracts, social protection or safety nets to protect them from economic shocks, which makes them more likely to fall into poverty. Women hold 24.7% of vulnerable employment in Uruguay.

As of 2026, a woman has never held the office of the presidency in Uruguay. Today, women occupy 22.3% of parliamentary seats in Uruguay, despite women making up 51.5% of the population. Underrepresentation in politics can stop policymakers from pushing policies that advance women’s roles in the workforce as well as their earning potential.

Progress Towards Addressing the Gender Wage Gap

Uruguay has made major moves forward in women’s rights since the 20th century, which reduced women’s poverty and improved the economy overall. The labor force participation rate for women has increased by nearly 10% since 1990 (42.6% then compared to 57.3% now). This rate stands higher than the average across Latin America and the Caribbean where women’s labor force participation rates sit at 51.2%.

The share of women working in high income positions has also increased marginally since 1990 (50.1% in 1990 compared to 54.3% today). This figure stands slightly higher than the global rate of women working in high income positions, which sits at 49.1%. 

What More Can be Done?

Despite these incredibly important milestones over the last century, Uruguay has not yet achieved gender equality in wages, which contributes to continued poverty in the country today.

Research suggests that governments could reduce the gender wage gap by implementing policies that allow women to participate in the workforce more freely. Policies that reduce informal employment, strengthen labor protections and identify and address discrimination or gender bias in hiring, pay and promotion would greatly benefit women in work according to the Inter-American Development Bank.

Conclusion

Uruguay has progressed in gender equality related to the wage gap by improving the pathway from education to workforce participation. Nevertheless, disparities remain in income and employment conditions, which contributes to higher levels of poverty across the country.

International organizations such as UN Women and the Inter-American Development Bank indicate that implementing policies and addressing informal employment could significantly reduce gender gaps. 

– Yemi Mary John

Yemi is based in London, UK and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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She Leads Movement for GYW in Mali

GYW in MaliThe term “girls and young women” (GYW) has no single date of origin. However, it has gained popularity in the 21st century as a concept tied to intersectionality, activism and inclusion. It bridges the gap between the categories of girls and women, allowing programs to support both groups while recognizing their distinct needs. This approach is central to the She Leads project.

A partnership program that ran from 2021 to 2025, the She Leads program brings together Plan International Netherlands, Defence for Children – ECPAT Netherlands (DCI-ECPAT), the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) and Terre des Hommes Netherlands. These organizations reflect the importance of the GYW framework in their efforts to promote education, leadership and independence for GYW. Their work in Mali, which has amplified GYW voices there, highlights the project’s impact.

Why Does the She Leads Program Exist?

At its core, the She Leads program wanted to improve gender equality across East and West Africa and the Middle East. However, this is no small task, not only because of cultural beliefs but also because of a lack of data and support to change these circumstances. Set up and supported by six organizations, She Leads worked to increase sustained influence for GYW, opening pathways for decision-making and “the transformation of gender norms in formal and informal institutions.” 

The consortium’s plan to achieve this goal was threefold. It aimed to address social attitudes and gender norms at multiple levels, from small-scale civil society to broader sociocultural perspectives and large institutions that can enable GYW participation in political spaces. The consortium also conducted an assessment to collect data on gender-based violence (GBV) and cyber abuse across seven sub-Saharan countries, including Mali. This effort strengthened data systems and broadened the initiative’s impact on GYW in developing countries.

Through this multifaceted plan and the coordinated efforts of six NGOs, the initiative has achieved notable success, particularly in Mali. Voices of GYW in Mali have historically been muted in a country where 54% of girls marry before 18, spending much of their lives outside the public sphere. Mali is also among the most impoverished countries globally; data from 2015 shows that 51% of women in the poorest households were married before 18. 

As in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, parents often marry off their daughters young, believing it will provide a better life while reducing their own economic burdens. This practice continues to promote the belief that girls are the property of their husbands. While this reflects a cultural tradition in Mali, the She Leads project worked to challenge it by collecting comprehensive data and engaging directly with GYW, enabling girls to articulate their needs and priorities.

What Is the Impact of the She Leads Project in Mali?

It is widely understood that poverty is multidimensional and linked to phenomena such as child marriage. One of She Leads movement’s major focuses was promoting education to amplify GYW voices in Mali. A UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster report from 2015 further illustrates the intersectionality of poverty in countries like Mali: 50% of women who only completed primary education were married before the age of 18, compared to 18% of those who completed secondary education. 

In fact, fewer than 74% of girls enroll in primary education, compared to 86% of boys. For girls, this figure drops to 15% for secondary education. With one of the fastest-growing populations, this educational inequality only widens the gender equality gap, according to the United Nations Development Programme’s Gender Inequality Index.

As such, improving girls’ education and enrollment was central to She Leads’ plan to amplify GYW voices in Mali. Specifically, She Leads took the approach of handing over educational agency to its focus groups of girls and women. It explained that its approach for all focus groups was to use the information gathered from these girls to determine the topics. The project does not decide in advance what it will focus on; instead, it brings the girls in and lets them share their own opinions.

One example of She Leads’ investment in GYW voices in Mali is the story of Fatoumata, a 17-year-old girl from rural Mali. Despite the World Economic Forum’s estimate that it will take “131 years to reach gender equality,” Fatoumata intends to “beat the clock” and become a community leader in a place where women traditionally run the home, not the world. She shared, “For me, it’s important to be able to make things happen. Today, I have come to my old school to talk to the students about important issues that affect them,” and that her “ambition is to be an accountant and a leader in my community.”

She Leads designed its community engagements to be safe spaces for GYW. It uses peer education to teach other girls in their community about sexual and reproductive health and rights, intervene on issues that concern them and take an active role in community decision-making. Now, Fatoumata not only feels more comfortable using her voice with her family but also sees a path to using it in the community to drive change and female inclusion.

What Have Been the Results of the Project?

Fatoumata’s experience highlights the impact the She Leads project has had on many communities. The project not only invested in academic education for girls but also in practical education, offering training sessions on issues like child marriage, FGM and STDs, breaking down barriers around taboo subjects. This transparency allows GYW to protect themselves and navigate life with independent knowledge, rather than relying on a family member for these truths.

In addition, She Leads encouraged community action, which culminated in GYW investment through “allocating them a quota of arable land where they can grow market vegetables, earning themselves an income.” Even with an education, cultural norms can still prevent women from entering professional and public spheres. Therefore, having community support for independent participation in the economy illustrates a break in the cycle of inequality.

Furthermore, Fatoumata and her group advocated for the representation of young women at policy forums, pushing for gender equality beyond their town or village and onto a national scale. She Leads data show that since 2021, 16 groups have been established across Mali, reaching 320 girls. These numbers might seem small; however, change is never instant. 

Meanwhile, information, the collection of which was a major part of She Leads’ work, is key to both initiating and sustaining it. Fatoumata’s experience is proof that there is room for hope for GYW voices not only in Mali but across the world and that cycles of inequality can be broken. Thanks to the She Leads project, Fatoumata can be one of many girls with agency in Mali.

– Jaya Noonan

Jaya is based in London, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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The Gender Wage Gap in Paraguay and Efforts To Close It

Gender Pay Gap in ParaguayParaguay’s economy has grown steadily in recent decades, bringing new opportunities and improving living conditions as a result for many people across the country. Yet one challenge continues to affect women in the workforce: the gender wage gap in Paraguay.

Even as more women enter the labor market and pursue careers across a wide range of industries, many still earn less than men performing similar – often the same – work. From offices in Asunción to farms and factories across the countryside, the pattern repeats itself: women contributing equally to Paraguay’s growth whilst taking home less at the end of the month.

Understanding the Gender Wage Gap in Paraguay

Households across Paraguay experience the gender wage gap directly. As the number of women taking on careers once dominated by men grows, the paychecks rarely reflect this. Despite completing the same work as their male colleagues, women receive paychecks that are often 20-30% smaller depending on the sector and region.

Looking closer, the gender wage gap in Paraguay reflects more than just differences in wages. Women also encounter fewer opportunities during their careers, and many cannot move up the career ladder, influence workplace policies, or take on higher-paying roles. In fact, women occupy only around 20 % of managerial positions even though women make up nearly half of Paraguay’s labor force.

The gender wage gap in Paraguay is not only a matter of paychecks – it reveals a workplace environment where women are not equally valued or recognized.

Factors Behind the Wage Gap

Several factors contribute to Paraguay’s persistent gender wage gap. One of the issues is occupational segregation. Women are more likely to be employed in lower-paying sectors such as domestic service, retail or caregiving roles in Paraguay, resulting in a lack of access to roles that come with a higher salary.

Care responsibilities also play a major role, especially in rural Paraguay. As women often carry the majority of childcare and household duties, many are unable to work full time. Furthermore, women in rural areas face fewer work opportunities with limited access to external childcare. As a result, many women are unable to pursue higher-paying positions or grow their careers.

The lack of education and training opportunities available also influences the wage gap. Although Paraguay has made progress in expanding access to education, barriers still prevent many women from entering technical and specialized professions that require advanced training. Many high-paying industries like engineering, technology and construction are still male-dominated and offer women fewer opportunities to access some of the best-paid jobs.

Government and International Efforts

The Paraguayan government has started to address the gender wage gap, along with other inequalities that women face, in the workplace. Equal opportunity and workers’ rights policies are now part of national development strategies. Furthermore, government institutions have strengthened labor regulations, with the aim to improve workplace conditions for women. The Paraguayan Parliament approved Law No. 5777 on Comprehensive Protection for Women Against Violence in 2016 to improve legal protections against gender-based discrimination.

The government also established the IV National Plan for Equality between Women and Men, which spanned from 2018 to 2024. Increasing women’s economic participation, improving access to employment opportunities and promoting women’s leadership were all key aims of this initiative.

Additionally, a number of international bodies have been supporting initiatives aimed at bridging the gender pay gap. One of these bodies is UN Women, which work in conjunction with different bodies in Paraguay aimed at enhancing gender equality in different workplaces. In Paraguay, UN Women has supported programs that promote women’s economic empowerment, entrepreneurship and leadership training. These initiatives include partnerships with government agencies and civil society groups to provide skills training, mentoring and policy support designed to increase women’s participation in employment and decision-making positions.

Global institutions such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank have helped in the formulation of such programs. The focus of these institutions in Paraguay is to improve access to education, improve the quality of job training and improve women’s participation in the workforce.

Community and NGO Initiatives

In addition to government programs, nonprofit organizations are working to empower women economically. Many of these initiatives focus on entrepreneurship and financial inclusion.

Several organizations actively promote gender equality in Paraguay’s workplaces. Some of these programs offer women business training and mentoring, enabling them to start their own businesses. Other programs focus on enhancing women’s access to financial services, such as micro-loans.

Nonprofit education programs also contribute to the promotion of gender equality. Fundación Paraguaya provides entrepreneurship programs, financial programs and assistance to women across the country who want to start their own businesses. Similarly, Pro Mujer runs programs in Latin American countries, including Paraguay, to offer women access to business programs, mentoring and financial programs to enable them to establish sustainable businesses.

Signs of Progress

Despite ongoing challenges that women in Paraguay are facing, there are signs of improvement. The number of women in Paraguay’s labor force has grown. More women are becoming entrepreneurs and business owners, contributing to economic growth at both local and national levels as a result.

As the public’s awareness of wage inequality grows, efforts to establish fair pay and equal opportunities for women are gaining traction across Paraguay. The gender wage gap shapes more than salaries; it shapes lives.

– Celine Heath

Celine is based in Portsmouth, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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5 Key Statistics on the Gender Wage Gap in Mali

Gender Wage Gap in MaliLandlocked in West Africa, Mali has a population of about 25 million people. It is one of the poorest countries in Africa, with 45.5% of the population living below the National poverty line, earning less than $3 a day. Outlined by the United Nations, SDG 8.5.1 measures the average hourly earnings of both men and women, tracking a country’s progress in attaining fair wages and equal pay. Here are five key facts of the gender wage gap in Mali.

The Gap

The gender wage gap in Mali stood at 41.9% in 2023, according to the International Labour Organization. In other words, a woman in Mali earns, on average, 58 cents for every dollar a man earns in the same working context.

In 2025, the World Bank estimated that 52.8% of Mali’s female population over 15 years of age participate in the labour force, compared to 81% of males over fifteen. This percentage dropped significantly from 60.5% of women in 1990, and is expected to keep decreasing.

A 2022 study on unpaid labour by the National Observatory of the Demographic Dividend found that Malian women spend four times as much as men carrying out domestic tasks and unpaid care. This limits the time they could be spending to pursue an education or hold a paid position. The study also estimated that if this unpaid labour was accounted for in 2019, it would have represented 17.6% of Mali’s GDP

Education and Literacy

Roughly one in six girls enroll in secondary school in Mali. Some significant obstacles, apart from gender discrimination, that prevent girls from continuing their education include child marriage, child labour and domestic work.

Adult literacy rates for both women and men in Mali are significantly lower than the average rate of the Sub-Saharan Africa aggregate. The female literacy rate stood at 25.7% in Mali, in contrast to 62.7% in Sub-Sahara Africa, according to the World Bank. In comparison, the male literacy rate stood at 46.2% in Mali and 74.9% in sub-Saharan Africa. There is not only an overall lower literacy rate in Mali, but also a much larger gap between women and men.

Inequality and Social Norms

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) measured Mali’s Gender Inequality Index (GII) value at 0.612 in 2023. The world’s average score of the same year stood at 0.455. In this metric scale from 0 to 0.900, the closer the measurement is to 0, the less inequality exists between genders.

Despite numerous initiatives and actions taken by humanitarian aid groups and NGOs, such as U.N. Women and Women for Women International, to raise awareness on the gender wage gap in Mali, as well as overall gender inequalities, deeply rooted patriarchal norms significantly obstruct the path towards progress.

At the end of the day, closing the gender wage gap in Mali could require dismantling social norms that impede women from getting an education and entering the workforce. It could require paying close attention to each statistic outlined above and navigating how to ameliorate them.

Breaking the cycle of girls and women disproportionately handling domestic tasks, for example, could allow them to get an education, enter the work force and occupy positions that will eventually bridge the gender wage gap.

The Future

There are a few organizations working in Mali to break these cycles of inequality. The Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) works in Mali, among many other African countries, to help girls gain access to quality education by eliminating the barriers preventing them from doing so. It offers bursaries, advocate and collaborate with the government, spread community awareness and train educators for their cause.

Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) is another organization operating in Mali to empower women by giving them an outlet to use their voice. They train journalists, mostly women, to report on ethics and women’s rights with a goal to “boost public accountability on human rights issues.”

– Brittany Buscio

Brittany is based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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3 Programs Empowering Young Girls in India

Empowering Young Girls in IndiaWithin India, gender discrimination is very prevalent, especially for young girls. This news is shared across various channels and explicitly stated on sites like the Human Development Index, which show that the country ranks higher on gender gaps than the global average. However, such news fails to acknowledge the positive developments that are empowering young girls in India. 

Specifically, three programs in India are designed to help young girls thrive in their environments. These include the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, the Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK) and the Balika Samriddhi Yojana.

Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana

This program empowers young girls in India by providing financial assistance. It is a government banking scheme initially set up to help parents support their daughters’ educational goals. By setting aside this money and building a fund for these young girls, it helps this minority move away from a life of poverty. 

Systemic gender inequalities can lead to an unfortunate life, such as poverty. One cause can be a lack of education. Girls are not as fortunate as boys to be granted the right to learn. As a result, they miss out on opportunities and independence and end up relying on others. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana works to prevent that and help girls live a life full of education.

Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK)

MSK is a program that empowers young Indian girls, particularly those in rural areas. It does so in many ways. However, the focus areas include education, employment, literacy, health and related support services.

Rural girls are often the most at risk because they lack the opportunities that boys or children in urban areas have. These girls do not have the resources needed to escape a frugal lifestyle, which very often results in early marriages and a cycle of domestic work. Educating and supporting girls in rural areas is not only essential for their futures but also for long-term national development.

Balika Samriddhi Yojana

Balika Samriddhi Yojana empowers young girls by providing financial support to those from underprivileged backgrounds. It not only helps with finances but also supports parents to ensure a focus on young girls’ mental and physical well-being. It provides a stipend to parents after the birth of a girl and scholarships for the child to support her education.

By doing all of this, it helps ensure that the girl and her family move away from struggling livelihoods and work toward bettering their lives, leaving poverty behind and toward a brighter future.

Final Remarks

These programs not only focus on gender inequalities, hoping to lessen that barrier, but also aim to help build a life out of poverty and into something better. These are only three programs highlighted, but many others address the issue and shed new light on it, showing that community and support can go a long way toward empowering young girls in India.

– Danielle Johnson

Danielle is based in Knoxville, TN, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Innovations in Poverty Eradication in Saint Lucia

Poverty Eradication in Saint LuciaThe island of Saint Lucia is one of the most highly coveted holiday destinations in the world. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, revealed the weaknesses of a tourism-based economy already susceptible to changing weather patterns and natural disasters. While the Saint Lucian economy has since recovered, international and grassroots projects continue in their efforts to fortify the tourist industry and develop innovations in poverty eradication in Saint Lucia through advancements in the agricultural sector in a bid to aid the most vulnerable groups in Saint Lucia’s society: women and young people.

Poverty and Gender Gap

 While rates of unemployment dropped to a historic low in 2024, and the percentage of households with internet access increased from 26.5% to 89.1% between 2010 and 2022, innovations in poverty eradication remain a necessity in Saint Lucia.

 Presently, 13,600 of Saint Lucia’s 183,600 population are living in poverty of less than $8.30 USD a day. Of those, the groups with the highest poverty rates are women and 0-14 years old, 8.5 and 13.5 respectively. Gender inequality exacerbates the issues for women as they receive on average salaries that are three quarters of the salaries that men earn.

Fortifying Tourism and Shifting to Blue Economy

 As part of ongoing efforts to drive economic growth, generate innovations in poverty eradication, fortify their tourism industry and secure increased levels of foreign aid and investment, Saint Lucia has been transitioning towards a blue economy. To do so, it has developed and implemented a National Ocean Policy, Strategic Action Plan and Coastal and Marine Spatial Plan, all of which work together across a 15-year timeframe to sustainably develop marine resources, protect ecosystems and manage the use of coastal and marine space. It is hoped that these initiatives will encourage the greater levels of international aid that is required to establish an attractive climate for foreign investments by helping mitigate the impacts of changing weather patterns.

These hopes have not been misplaced. The government of Saint Lucia has secured two major investment projects. These agreements are with the ATLAS Group and the Caribbean Hospitality Management Group, to construct a major luxury development and luxury residential venture respectively. Both projects will prioritize sustainability and integrate agriculture and education, according to local officials.

 These projects followed an initiative introduced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to work closely with the government, private sector, and multilateral development banks to increase access to finance for women and youths in Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda. The Innovative Finance For Underserved Groups Programme ran between January 2024 and December 2025 and signified a total contribution of $584,437 USD.

Water For Resilience (W4R)

International and grassroots efforts have also targeted agricultural innovation and reforms. The UNDP, Canada and United Kingdom have collaborated to establish and fund Water For Resilience (W4R). This initiative supports vulnerable communities in the islands of Saint Lucia, Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, helping them access sustainable water supplies and enhance their ecosystem conservation as part of improved water resources management. W4R focuses on supporting woman-led households, rural women farmers and youths, seeking to amplify their voices and limit the gender gap. Members of W4R collaborate with young farmers across the Marquis Watershed in Saint Lucia, an area of considerable importance as it serves as the site of construction for the major luxury development agreed with the Atlas Group.

The EnGenDER Programme

The UNDP, Canada and the U.K. have further tried to lessen the damage created by the gender gap through the establishment of the Enabling Gender Responsive Disaster Recovery, Climate and Environmental Resilience in the Caribbean (EnGenDER) programme. The objective of EnGenDER is to integrate gender equality and human rights based approaches into strategies that focus on disaster risk reduction and adaptation to changing weather patterns. The ultimate goal is to ensure equal access to disaster relief funds and environment solutions to all groups. EnGenDER also supports projects aimed towards aiding differently-abled people, such as the UN Aquaponics Project, which provided employment opportunities for more than 40 Saint Lucians living with disabilities.

Combined, these agricultural reforms and innovations in poverty eradication have strengthened the position of vulnerable groups in Saint Lucia. The increased access to sustainable water supplies, disaster relief and environmental solutions serves to aid poverty alleviation for rural women, as they now have greater economic stability and will be less impacted financially in the event of a natural disaster.

The National Schools’ Science and Technology Fair

There have also been highly promising innovations made at the local level, specifically by the youth of Saint Lucia. At the National Schools’ Science and Technology Fair 2025, students from Vieux Fort Comprehensive unveiled their ‘Pineapple Purification’ system, which sees pineapple waste become a natural water filter for farm pollution. The filtration system could potentially provide local farmers with a low-budget and sustainable solution to prevent the spreading of harmful bacteria, increasing their earning potential. According to Vieux Fort, The Global Environment Facility has expressed interest in expanding the scale of the project.

What Comes Next?

While strong progress has been made to shorten the gender gap, establish sustainable tourism and alleviate poverty levels in Saint Lucia, more is needed. More foreign aid, investment, support and attention are all required to ensure that Saint Lucia becomes a paradise not just for visitors and tourists, but for Saint Lucians themselves.

– Sean Welsh

Sean is based in Haywards Heath, UK and focuses on Technology and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr