Archive for category: Gender Equality

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Addressing the Gender Wage Gap in Azerbaijan

Gender Wage Gap in AzerbaijanHistorically, in 74 countries, women have been confined to the four walls of their homes, limiting their activities to the domestic sphere. Azerbaijan is one of them. For decades, laws barred women from participating in the workforce, with 674 occupations exclusively reserved for men. For instance, regulations prohibited women from laying asphalt, working as train engineers or engaging in hazardous occupations. Women occupy only a small fraction of managerial positions, resulting in many of those roles going to men. Meanwhile, women’s monthly salaries are 35% lower than men’s salaries. Here is more information about the gender wage gap in Azerbaijan.

Decline of the Amazons-women

The history of Azerbaijan reveals that the country was once home to “Amazons-women,” a term used to describe women who possessed the best qualities traditionally attributed to men. Monuments in Azerbaijan commemorate successful women such as Queen Tomris and Queen Nushaba.

However, as history unfolded, Soviet rule suppressed women’s voices. Authorities pushed women into traditional household roles, primarily as mothers and caretakers. Today, men hold an overwhelming 90% majority in positions such as ministers, chairs of state committees and heads of large enterprises, while women hold the majority in supporting roles at 63.6%.

Poverty and the Gender Wage Gap in Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijan, the contrast between urban and rural women’s opportunities remains stark. Baku showcases women in leadership roles and thriving businesses, while rural areas, especially in the south, remain trapped in cycles of poverty, early marriage and economic exclusion. Many rural women lack access to education, pushing them into low- or no-income roles that cement financial dependence and limit future earning potential. This systemic lack of skills and access to better-paying jobs directly feeds into the national gender wage gap in Azerbaijan, as rural women often work in informal, low-paying sectors or perform unpaid household labor. Even with initiatives like UNDP–EU resource centers enabling small business creation, structural inequalities and limited market access keep rural women’s wages far below those of their urban counterparts, perpetuating poverty across generations.

Lag in Pay Parity

According to a 2023 report from the Azerbaijan Statistical Committee, female students make up 52% of higher education enrollment. However, this growth does not translate into equal remuneration. Women primarily work in health care and teaching, yet earn roughly half of what men in these professions receive. Workplace segregation remains a key driver of the wage gap. Social norms expect women to serve as mothers and limit interactions with men, which restricts professional networking opportunities necessary for career advancement. As a result, many women stagnate in low-paying jobs, constrained by societal expectations and fear of condemnation. Thus, many women continue to live under a figurative veil.

Reforms Open Doors, Yet Hurdles Remain

Gender wage disparity contributes to an estimated $160 trillion loss in human capital wealth globally. McKinsey reports that if women participated in the labor market at the same rate as men, global GDP could rise by $28 trillion.

Azerbaijan’s Parliament implemented a law called On amendments to the Labour code of Azerbaijan, which aims to reduce the number of prohibited professions from 674 to 204 for women. In contrast, the professions that continue to be prohibited are for pregnant women and women with children under the age of 1. 

The World Bank has been collaborating with Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population (MoLSPP) to help women access STEM. The World Bank held a stakeholder roundtable on aiding the increase in the participation of women in the field of STEM. It also developed E-learning courses on occupational health and safety, violence and harassment, along with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, including representatives from MoLSPP. However, deep-rooted patriarchal social norms continue to persist, which hinders progress.

Initiatives to Promote STEM for Women

Women today are significantly underrepresented in fields like STEM, comprising only 30.1% graduates. A handful of institutions have made progress in addressing this including:

  1. The AGA Group and the Demir Scholarship: The AGA group provides scholarships to female students studying in STEM, finance and medical fields at UFAZ university. Successful female candidates receive a monthly scholarship of 250-300 AZN based on their academic performance. 
  2. Sumgait Technologies Park and the Gentle Engineers Women’s Development Project: The STP Group of Companies created the “Gentle Engineers” women’s development project in April 2024 in partnership with the Education Development Fund. It offers scholarships and mentorship to 50 high-performing female students in technical fields (e.g., engineering disciplines). Recipients receive financial support, training and mentorship.
  3. Coca-Cola Icecek and the Equal Salary Certification: In September 2023, Coca-Cola İçecek (CCI), the regional bottling company operating in Turkey and several neighboring countries, including Azerbaijan, received the Equal-Salary Certification from the Swiss Equal-Salary Foundation. This confirms that the company pays men and women equally for equal work.

Looking Ahead

While policy reforms have begun to address Azerbaijan’s gender wage gap, sustainable change will depend on dismantling entrenched social norms and ensuring equal access to all levels of the labor market.

– Chhahat Kaur Gandhi

Chhahat is based in New Delhi, India and focuses on Business and New Markets for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Shred the Patriarchy: The Janwaar Skate Troupe That Fights Back

Shred the PatriarchyChantal Pinzi, an Italian-born, Berlin-based photographer, has recently won the Sony World Photography Awards with her project “Shred The Patriarchy.” The project centralizes the burgeoning female-centred skateboarding community in the village of Janwaar, Madhya Pradesh, India.

The Cultural Landscape that Shred The Patriarchy Exists In

As in Western nations, skateboarding is a sport primarily dominated by men and boys; as it stands, the Indian gender ratio of men to women in skateboarding is 95% to 5%. This gender disparity is only heightened by the cultural stereotypes placed upon Indian women; they are expected to be homemakers, often forced into arranged marriages. From there, they will be the primary caregiver of a husband and children, having little time for their hobbies or interests. This is the tradition; this is the life that many Indian women have come to expect. However, many do not have it.

From the anger of a sexist patriarchal society stemmed resistance. In 2023, The Guardian spoke to female Mumbai and Pune skaters about their experience engaging with the sport in the current cultural landscape. Above all, an impenetrable bond exists between the women in these communities; due to a lack of female skateboarding instructors, these troupes teach one another and collectively improve their skills. This supportive environment has greatly fostered the female skateboarding scene’s growth in India.

What Does Shred The Patriarchy Do?

Highlighting the resistance and resilience of Janwaar women was Pinzi’s paramount goal with Shred The Patriarchy. In April 2025, Pinzi told World Skate that she has “always tried to understand and challenge the structures of power, oppression, sexism and misogyny. Choosing to focus on women skaters is part of that commitment. [She sees] it as both a form of resistance and a responsibility.”

Pinzi’s collection of photographs for the project is utterly iconoclastic. With each photo, the stereotypical ideal of what an Indian woman is or should be, is fragmented until it is entirely shattered. Pinzi highlights young women, primarily in traditional kurtis or sari dresses, engaging in anything but traditional activities. Some shots capture the subject mid-way through a skate trick, while others capture women alone or in a company, holding their boards as if the object were a lifeline.

While most subjects can be seen in traditional Indian dress, more commonly worn khussa shoes are exchanged for worn trainers, like Vans or Converse, which are much more appropriate for the sporting activity. Sometimes, these women do not comply with the customs: in one shot, a young subject poses clad in a Jim Morrison t-shirt, black trousers and trainers. These women are, one custom at a time, fighting back.

Conclusion

Due to resistant factions, like the Janwaar women learning to skate, sociocultural change is being pushed in India. In Western nations, the idea that a woman might be unable to do something as simple as skateboarding with her friends seems absurd. For millions of Indian women, however, this is reality; they are denied the basic right to live in communities that nurture their interests. However, with the rise to prominence of these troupes via projects like Shred The Patriarchy, widespread acceptance of broken gender norms is one step closer.

– Sarina Maloy

Sarina is based in Bath, UK and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Tackling the Gender Wage Gap in San Marino

Gender Wage Gap in San MarinoThe fifth-smallest nation in the world San Marino has made commendable progress on narrowing the gender wage gap in recent years. In 2025, the United Nations (UN) praised the nation’s initiatives to balance the labor force and tighten the gender wage gap across the region.

The gender wage gap in San Marino forms part of a larger trend of gender discrimination in the country. In the past, these issues have arisen from violence towards women and an educational curriculum that did not place enough emphasis on gender equality and human rights. Furthermore, men make up 73% of management positions in San Marino. This statistic reinforces how the female workforce is underrepresented in positions of authority – a narrative the country is striving to change.

Engulfed by the Italian mainland, the tightly knit community of San Marino have experienced a wave of changes in relation to gender legislation. Policies which range from education to a revised government office have positively impacted the lives of female citizens working in their country of origin. Here are three ways in which the contributions of both government and international organizations have helped to reduce the gender wage gap in San Marino.

Bolstering and Empowering the Female Workforce

In order to balance the female labor force, the government of San Marino has actively provided incentives to employers with regards to their hiring policy. The government significantly reduced taxation costs on female workers to increase the number of women in full time employment. 

Employers also made provisions to accommodate female needs in the workplace. These hinge around the conditions surrounding maternity leave. If a female worker had given birth to a child, she now has the option to accept a part time contract in order to balance family responsibilities. This choice has provided female employees with a degree of economic stability.

Furthermore, there are developed plans for a new Office of the Ombudsman to be implemented in 2026. This office provides an outlet where workers can raise issues which have arisen at the workplace including ‘combatting discrimination.’ This political initiative grants women an opportunity to question matters regarding their wage and all aspects of their working environment.

Long-Term Financial Transparency and Security

With data scarcely published on the gender wage gap in San Marino, recent developments to showcase financial transparency statistics ensure that international organizations can monitor the progress being made. In 2002, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) placed San Marino on the ‘grey list’ for not publicly sharing data collated on tax information. Fast forward to 2025, San Marino is successfully complying with the demands that the OECD expects and is no longer on the list. These measures ensure that San Marino regularly and publicly shares its financial information, which changes its previous connotations with an unwillingness to cooperate.

Denouncing Gender Based Discrimination

The wider narrative of government gender based policy importantly highlights a shift towards improving the working environment for women in San Marino. The government is currently processing a bill which provides women under the age of 35 with the guidance to start their own e-business. These legislative measures aim to provide women with the appropriate support previously received by their male counterparts.

On an institutional level, educational reforms have also contributed to a broader notion of gender equality in San Marino. An open exhibition, which featured the works of primary and secondary school children, was made accessible to the general public on the ‘fight against violence against women’ in 2025. In addition to this showcase, the University of San Marino has introduced higher educational modules addressing gender based issues and patterns of discrimination. These public initiatives highlight a government priority placed on promoting gender equality.

Looking Ahead

Despite the nation attracting little attention from global media outlets, it is important to recognize the measures that are occurring to improve the gender wage gap in San Marino. Regular discussions with international organizations have ensured that women working in San Marino have received financial support in relation to maternity. Widespread reforms in both the educational and employment sectors highlight the nation’s efforts to combat unequal pay and wider discriminatory practices. San Marino’s recent commitments to gender based policy reinforces how tackling the gender pay gap is a global issue no matter the size of a country’s population.

– Ash Fowkes-Gajan

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

Photo: Unsplash

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How Violating Women’s Rights in Afghanistan Worsens Life for All

Women’s Rights in AfghanistanOn August 15, 2021, the lives of the Afghan people underwent a stochastic lifestyle shift. It marked the establishment of a Taliban-governed Afghan state for the first time since 2001. This theocratic regime has been characterized by humanitarian organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch as oppressive toward women, with documented restrictions on their rights to work, education, freedom of movement and public participation. Additional documented human rights concerns include religious intolerance, persecution of minorities, suppression of press and speech freedoms, extrajudicial killings and denial of due process.

The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, coined “The Fall of Kabul,” was a far more hastened onslaught of events than American intelligence and even the Taliban themselves anticipated. The United States military completed its withdrawal by August 30, 2021. ​​It took the Taliban just 10 days to retake Afghanistan. The only thing to change as impetuously in Afghanistan as the system of government change was the constitutional rights of Afghan women.

Impact of Women’s Rights Restrictions

The current restriction of women’s rights in Afghanistan represents a significant regression in what the United Nations (U.N.) defines as “Equality and Nondiscrimination.” It statistically correlates with broader socioeconomic decline affecting all Afghan demographics, including men.

Afghan Taliban policies include bans on women’s education, female employment in the private sector, women’s suffrage, female representation in government, female access to trial rights, medical training for women and women’s right to speak in public. These practices have been documented to impact the broader population through decreased access to services, reduced household incomes and legal system imbalances.

Additionally, women face restricted rights in divorce and marriage, including an increased incidence of forced marriages, as well as a rise in femicide cases since 2021. International justice organizations have reported these as systemic issues enabled by the current legal environment.

Economic Effects of Banning Female Employment

Under Taliban governance, Afghan women have been banned from working with NGOs and other sectors. Women comprised approximately 17% of the workforce in 2021, a number that declined to 5.1% by 2024. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) projects this exclusion could result in annual economic losses of $1 billion.

The U.N. notes Afghanistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) has contracted by 27% from 2021 to 2023. Research from the IMF and World Bank demonstrates that equal labor participation improves GDP per capita and increases national wealth. These economic impacts are mirrored in reported wage declines affecting 80% of Afghan households since 2021.

Socioeconomic Effects of Banning Female Education

The Taliban has banned education for girls after the age of 12. Evidence indicates that adolescent female education directly supports GDP growth, with a 10% increase in girls’ school attendance associated with a 3% increase in GDP. Each additional year of girls’ secondary education raises future earnings by 10–20%.

The World Bank has found that education improves outcomes in health, marriage age, fertility and child well-being, all of which contribute to a more resilient economy and society. The ban on women’s medical training further exacerbates deficits in health services and public health knowledge dissemination.

The Cost of Silencing Women in Politics

The Taliban has revoked Afghan women of their political and legal rights. Elections have been suspended, women are barred from holding office and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has been dismantled, removing all avenues for female political participation. Academic studies have found that expanding women’s voting rights increases the passage of socially beneficial policies and contributes to broader economic growth.

According to the World Economic Forum and U.N. Women, countries with high female political participation show stronger wage equality, labor protections and economic performance outcomes. Furthermore, denying trial rights to women undermines due process protections and may incentivize exploitation by removing legal accountability mechanisms. The rise in femicide and forced marriages has been documented as a direct consequence of these legal imbalances.

The Taliban’s prohibition on women speaking in public continues to reduce their civic visibility and participation. Indeed, this gender-based exclusion contributes to widespread psychological strain, with 80% of Afghan women reporting symptoms of clinical depression.

Organizations Fighting for Women’s Rights in Afghanistan

The curtailment of women’s rights in Afghanistan is not going unchallenged. Many organizations are actively on the ground trying to restore the constitutional rights of Afghan men. The Malala Fund offers digital learning programs that provide access to education to more than two million girls in Afghanistan. The organization also assists Afghan women activists advocating to make gender apartheid a crime under international law.

Women for Afghan Women (WAW) is a pro bono organization that offers mental health treatment to 13,455 women and 3,515 girls in 14 provinces across Afghanistan. WAW also provides safe shelters to Afghan women-led households, an impactful cause because 80% of the citizens in need of humanitarian aid in Afghanistan are women.

Razia’s Ray Ray of Hope Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works to expand female educational enrollment. It also runs nutritional programs that distribute school lunches to female students. The organization’s Menstrual Health and Hygiene Program provides more than 2,000 girls and women with essential items, including menstrual products, laundry and body soap, shampoo and new underwear.

Conclusion

According to development studies, a return to the constitutional rights Afghan women held before 2021 is believed to ameliorate the standard of living across Afghan society. Implementing inclusive gender reforms could provide Afghanistan with a similar trajectory toward sustainable development.

– Danial Osmani

Danial focuses on Politics for  The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Building Inclusivity in Denmark: Policies That Empower Women

Inclusivity in DenmarkDenmark is widely recognized as a global leader in gender equality. It ranks third in the European Union (EU) on the Gender Equality Index with a score of 77.8 out of 100, 7.6 points higher than the EU average.

Denmark promotes equality by ensuring that all women, no matter their background, socioeconomic status or identity, have the opportunity to succeed. Inclusivity in Denmark is demonstrated through its dedication to providing opportunities for all women to thrive, supported by progressive laws and targeted initiatives.

Legislative Frameworks for Equality

At the heart of Denmark’s inclusive policy approach is a robust legal framework that protects women’s rights and responds to the diverse realities of their lives. The Gender Equality Act (2000) requires public authorities, universities and research organizations to embed gender equality into their planning and operations. This ensures balanced representation in decision-making and equal access to opportunities.

The Equal Treatment Acts (2024 and 2025) strengthen workplace equality by prohibiting gender-based discrimination and aligning national law with EU directives on equal treatment and work-life balance. Additionally, generous parental leave provisions further set Denmark apart. Parents can access up to 18 months of leave, with safeguards protecting academic and professional career progression during family absences. These measures create a legal foundation where every woman can participate fully and equally in society.

Economic Inclusion

Denmark’s welfare ensures that all women can participate in the economy. Around 70% of women aged 15–74 in Denmark participate in paid work outside the home, significantly higher than the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average of approximately two-thirds.

The Fleksjob Scheme provides tailored employment for individuals with reduced work capacity, including women with disabilities or chronic illnesses. It allows them to work part-time with complete pay security. The program provides various support, including job coaching, vocational training, workplace accommodations and wage subsidies. These measures are designed to overcome barriers and provide individuals with the tools to secure, retain and thrive in employment. Employees and employers can benefit by encouraging greater participation in the labor market.

Furthermore, the Danish Center for Information on Women and Gender (KVINFO) introduced a mentor network that connects refugee and immigrant women with established Danish professionals. Networking is vital in opening doors to the labor market, education and social inclusion. Since its establishment, the network has had more than 7,000 participants. The relationships built between mentors and mentees are grounded in collaboration and individuality, ensuring both are treated as equals. This foundation cultivates trust and respect, celebrates unique strengths and recognizes potential.

Other initiatives, such as the For Women in Science program, promote inclusivity by encouraging gender balance in recruitment and offering training to address unconscious bias. This creates a more inclusive environment for women in leadership and scientific communities. These measures collectively promote inclusivity in Denmark, ensuring that women from all backgrounds can participate fully in the economy. This commitment helps break down barriers and supports greater social and economic integration nationwide.

International Action

Inclusivity in Denmark extends to its foreign policy, where gender equality is embedded to promote women’s participation and protection in global peace and security efforts. The National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (2020–2024) ensures women’s full and meaningful participation in peace processes, while protecting women human rights defenders from threats and violence.

Denmark also takes a zero-tolerance stance on sexual and gender-based violence in conflict zones, funding programs that prosecute perpetrators, protect victims and support survivors’ recovery. By chairing the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies, Denmark leads the global effort to safeguard women and girls in crisis settings.

Empowerment Through Networking

Beyond policy, Denmark invests in spaces that unite women and create lasting professional networks. The Career Club DK Women’s Empowerment Summit (2025) combines personal empowerment and career development with two stages of expert-led sessions, a female entrepreneur zone and structured networking. Indeed, these activities create space for meaningful connections, designed to celebrate diversity and build an inclusive community where women from diverse walks of life can thrive.

The Women in Law Forum: Denmark (2025), held in Copenhagen, was a thought-provoking gathering dedicated to advancing gender diversity and inclusion in the legal sector. The forum explored the changing landscape of female representation, the impact of generational shifts on workplace culture and the importance of collaboration in building a more inclusive legal profession.

Similarly, WOMENSCONF 2025, a global academic gathering in Denmark, brings together scholars and practitioners to explore issues from gender and migration to intersectionality and economic empowerment.

A Model in Progress

Denmark’s commitment to gender equality evolves in response to new challenges and women’s voices. By embedding equality into law, providing targeted support to vulnerable groups and promoting women’s leadership domestically and globally, Denmark ensures that every woman can participate fully in society.

From refugee mentorship programs to international peace-building, the commitment to inclusivity in Denmark shows that gender equality is strongest when it’s intersectional, proactive and collaborative.

– Beatrice Punt

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

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Gender Equality in Brazil

gender equality in Brazil The World Bank reported that poverty in Brazil has decreased from 21.7% in 2023 to 20.9% in 2024 due to growth in the labor market. However, gender equality in Brazil remains a prominent issue, with Rio having higher levels of social and economic inequality. Women in Brazil are 47% less likely than men to receive equal wages for similar work. 

Poverty and Gender Equality in Brazil

Oxfam reported that in Brazil, inequality is decreasing and to reach the United Kingdom’s (U.K.) current level of income equality, it could take 75 years. Furthermore, the lack of fiscal space to increase social spending and the reduced growth in the service sectors mean poverty reduction is likely to be much slower over the next few years. 

In Rio, around 23% to 24% of the population lives in favelas and there are more residents in favelas in the city than all others in Brazil. The term favela often refers to slums, where people living in favelas are more at risk of poverty and health problems due to gangs that control these territories. Women are often most at risk in the favelas, which face high levels of violence and offer limited access to resources for women. However, there are women leaders in the favelas who are activists, symbolizing the daily struggles of the people who face limitations to their access to rights. 

G20 Rio declaration

Officially known as the G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders’ Declaration is the summit held at the end of 2024, detailing what promises and key priorities the leaders are committing to in the new year. It is often praised for its duty to sustainability, climate action and gender equality. 

Women in poverty in Rio may see the positive impacts of some of the decisions made at this summit, as the Rio Declaration confirmed the G20’s commitment to gender equality and empowerment of women and girls. One of these key commitments is the condemnation of gender-based violence, which may improve the lives of women living in favelas that are most at risk of violence.

Other notable commitments are the support of gender equality in Brazil with the promotion of equal pay, leadership opportunities and career development for women. A significant change and move forward is the summit’s pledge to reduce the gender wage gap from 2025 and bridge the gender digital divide by 2030. Indeed, this pledge will help move women out of poverty by providing them with better and equal pay. 

Lucia Xavier

Lucia Xavier is an activist who founded the anti-racist nongovernmental organization (NGO), Criola, in Rio de Janeiro and is a Brazilian social worker. Furthermore, Xavier founded NGO Criola in 1992, which acts in the defense and promotion of Black women, young women and girls. Xavier’s work across Brazil as an activist focuses on advocating for black women and girls from poor backgrounds who face violence, which she identifies as the biggest threat to women’s rights in Brazil.

For Xavier, Black women’s representation is a key issue and she believes their leadership is vital for an equal future. Xavier has said that “Black women [are] powerful political actors, capable of transforming society and reshaping the norms.”  

Women Ministers in BRICS

BRICS is a group of five countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — that serves as a political and diplomatic coordination forum for nations in the Global South. BRICS Brazil April 2025, held a meeting of women ministers that reinforced the essential role of female participation in shaping a new global governance.   

Gender equality policies took center stage at this BRICS meeting, which focused on women’s development and entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, climate action, sustainable development and digital governance – misogyny and misinformation. Each of these areas looked at where women need help in Brazil and possible solutions. When discussing women’s development, the focus was on promoting initiatives and investments aimed at ensuring women’s equal participation in economic and social development. Recognizing technology-based violence against women and ensuring countries commit to promoting women’s equal participation in climate action are key concerns. This is critical because women and girls account for 80% of those displaced by natural disasters and the changing climate.

– Alice Haston

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

Photo: Flickr

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Examining the Gender Wage Gap in Yemen

Gender Wage Gap in YemenYemen, a country located in the southwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia, is known as the poorest country in the region. In 2021, a study that The UN Development Program and Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative conducted indicated that 82.7% of Yemen were residing in multidimensional poverty. Over the last decade of violence infiltrating Yemen, war has shattered Yemen’s current economic status and further exacerbated gender inequality. In 2021, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) ranked Yemen 155 out of 156 in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap index, roughly a rate of 49% signifying major disparities among men and women. Here is what to know about the gender wage gap in Yemen.

Yemen’s 2014 Civil War

Yemen’s civil war, a conflict that began in 2014, occurred when the Houthi rebels, a Shiite group, seized the capital of Yemen, demanding economic reforms and political change. This invasion escalated into a civil war, in which regional powers such as a Saudi-led coalition became involved, leading into a decade-long civil war that is currently ongoing. This continuous turmoil has left Yemen unstable and has led the international community to declare Yemen as “the world’s worst humanitarian crisis,” as more than 21 million Yemenis face dire need for assistance due to famine and disease.

This conflict has devastated poverty levels and caused a health decline due to inaccessible health services, affecting the citizens in Yemen, particularly women. With limited access to education and employment, women often face exclusion from formal income opportunities, widening Yemen’s gender wage gap.

The Outcome of Yemen’s Civil War

A sociological survey released in 2024 by UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung in Indonesia revealed that 47% of Yemeni women experience gender discrimination at work. This discrimination further hinders job prospects for women and decreases workforce participation, therefore increasing the rate of the gender wage gap in Yemen and exposing the disproportionate hardships women face.

Due to widespread poverty from lack of resources, women face fewer job opportunities when compared to their male counterparts. Consequently, only 55% of women are unemployed, while men have a rate of only 25%, as stated by a labor force survey conducted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2015.

However, despite the damage the conflict has inflicted on women’s position in society and in the workforce, U.N. Women indicated significant increases in women’s presence in the public sphere, as they have become more active in public life and have sought employment, improving the overall status of women.

The Government’s Efforts To Diminish Inequality

While the current state of Yemen has caused a large economic disparity for women, efforts remain in place to improve such disparities. The Government of Yemen has approved initiatives to develop women’s health and strategies to diminish Yemen’s wage gap, such as ratifying the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1984 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1991.

CEDAW is an international treaty that defines what is deemed as discriminatory against women and sets an agenda for national action to end such discrimination. Since its establishment, CEDAW has encouraged a reconsideration of Yemeni’s laws, such as early marriage, child labor and women’s political participation, allowing for the engagement of women not only in the workforce, but to uphold a greater position in society.

The CRC is an international human rights treaty, providing rights for children and guaranteeing education and health care that support the well being of children. It has encouraged education among the youth, especially girls, which increases the likelihood of their involvement in the workforce, decreasing the unemployment rate for women. The CRC aims to decrease gender inequality, which in return supports women’s involvement in the workforce.

The UNDP Strategic Plan

Alongside governmental intervention, UNDP has initiated forward-looking efforts, such as the UNDP Strategic Plan effective through 2023-2025, aiming to assist a variety of countries, including Yemen. UNDP has outlined several strategic approaches including:

  • Providing three signature solutions to support gender equality and strengthen the economic and structural framework for women in society such as signature solution 6, which promotes equal rights for women and girls.
  • Tackling the disparities between women and men through gender equality initiatives, such as implementing policies and programs focusing on women’s leadership, humans rights and access to justice.
  • Developing a wide range of communication materials to effectively promote and integrate gender equality into mainstream aid efforts.
  • Supporting the Women, Peace and Security agenda, ensuring that all conflict prevention is directly affiliated with addressing gender inequality.

Looking Ahead

Although war has undeniably damaged the nation and its citizens, continued support from organizations and international efforts remains imperative to begin building a more equitable society, shrinking the gender wage gap in Yemen, presenting expanded resources and providing essential opportunities without excluding women.

– Lojine Goumaa

Lojine is based in Fayetteville, NC, USA and focuses on Global Health and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Everything To Know About the Gender Wage Gap in Botswana

Gender Wage Gap in BotswanaBotswana is an upper-middle-income country in Southern Africa, known for its diverse wildlife. However, for women, the gender wage gap in Botswana persists in employment. Although some policies for women’s rights have made improvements over the years, the country still has further to go in achieving equal pay. 

Wage Differences  

The World Statistics Congress has reported that women in Botswana earn 82.3% of the male average earnings each month. Male citizens earn 17.7% more than their female coworkers, which creates a gender inequality.

According to the World Bank, the Botswana government has commented that it wants to work towards gender equality. In 1996, Botswana supported the UN convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Botswana has also implemented the Economic Inclusion Act of 2021, which aims to help women and targeted citizens contribute to the country’s economic growth.

Legal Acts 

Botswana has implemented some Acts to try and combat the challenges that women face. One of these is the Domestic Violence Act of 2008, which makes domestic violence a criminal offence and helps victims to receive protection. Another piece of legislation in favor of women’s rights is the Abolition of the Martial Power Act of 2004, which abolished the legal right that a husband had over his wife in marriage. 

Botswana has not taken any legal action to protect women from the gender wage gap in Botswana. It still needs to legally address issues such as maternity leave and protecting women from harassment in their jobs. 

The government has shown their support for women in the workplace by supporting programs such as the Women’s Economic Empowerment programme. Oxfam’s program promoted gender equality and aimed to make sure that people valued women’s work.

Disparities for Women in Employment 

Since 1991, vulnerable employment for women has increased in Botswana, as the World Bank reported. Vulnerable employment for women can lead to a lack of social protection and leaves them more at risk of falling into poverty. Among women, vulnerable employment is 29.4%. 

The labor force participation rate for women in 2024 compared to men is less, which could be due to gender-based discrimination. The labor force participation is 73.4% for men and 63.8% for women. However, these statistics are an increase from 1990 statistics.

EntreprenHER Programme 

The EntreprenHER programme is an initiative that is in partnership with De Beers Group and UN Women South African Multi-Country Office. The EntreprenHER programme wants to boost women-owned micro-enterprises across three years until 2026. The program will be across three southern African countries, which are Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. EntreprenHER wants to coach 1,500 women entrepreneurs by 2026. 

This is a move in the right direction for the closing of the gender wage gap in Botswana since it gives women more training to become their own entrepreneurs. Botswana currently has overtaken targets and now has 159 women with capacity building in Improve Your Business training. 

A participant of the program from Botswana, Lemogang Bathobasele, who owns a business called Car Diagnosis Solutions & Repairs and is a mechanic, has said, “I look forward to implementing what I learned this week and growing my business to hire more women electricians.” 

Women’s participation in male-dominated fields helps Botswana become closer to achieving gender equality since this program gives them opportunities in the field that they may not have had otherwise.

Education and Opportunities  

Human Development reports have noted the inequality between men and women in Botswana. Parliament comprises 8.5% women and 91.5% men. This demonstrates the lack of opportunities women receive compared to men which widens this issue of the gender wage gap in Botswana. 

Girls in Botswana have a higher rate of completing lower secondary education, with 90.3% of girls as of 2022 completing lower secondary education compared to boys, which is 86%. This could be considered a move forward with girls receiving their education, which can help them to obtain better-paying jobs. 

The World Bank has stated that many poorer and less educated women work in the private sector but also unpaid family work. This illustrates how women in poverty are more susceptible to the gender wage gap in Botswana.

Bridging the Gap 

While Botswana is actively making changes to their country and creating legal acts to improve women’s rights, it is evident that there is still further to go to close the gender wage gap in Botswana. With the help of programs like EntreprenHER, Botswana will be able to work towards a closer bridge in the gender wage gap.

– Alice Haston

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

Photo: Unsplash

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Closing the Gender Wage Gap in Nepal for Dalit Women

Gender Wage Gap in NepalThe gender wage gap is a continuing problem for women in the workforce of Nepal, particularly Dalit women. Like many South Asian countries, the caste system has a significant influence on the socioeconomic makeup of Nepal. This is despite the fact that the Nepali government outlawed caste-based discrimination in 1963. This hierarchical system, originating within Hinduism, divides society into different hereditary castes. At the bottom of this system are the Dalits, who face substantial economic and social barriers in accessing fair employment. Dalit women particularly face dual discrimination based on both caste and gender, compounding their economic and societal exclusion.

Barriers to Wage Equality

The Nepal Labor Force Survey in 2022 found that women earned on average 23% less than men. Specific up-to-date statistics on the gender wage gap in Nepal by caste are chronically lacking; however, an overrepresentation of Dalit women in low-paying, informal positions will likely compound the already existing gender wage gap. This means employers often neglect to give them the same wage protections and labor rights as those in more formal employment.

Furthermore, the Haliya system forces a specific community of Dalits into bonded labor from birth, making them work off ever-increasing debt. Although the government banned this system in 2008, it still traps thousands from lower castes, often women, in agricultural slavery. This has contributed to a poverty rate of almost 42% amongst the Dalit population, almost double the national average of 21.6%. This pattern of poverty and wage discrimination can trap Dalit women in a generational cycle of systematic oppression.

Legislative Victories

In spite of these persistent challenges, a growing body of legislation is helping to lay the groundwork for greater gender and caste wage equality. The 2015 constitution itself marked a huge stride in eliminating the gender wage gap in Nepal. Article 18 sets out the right to equality from gender and caste based discrimination, with Article 38 also specifically outlining the rights of women, which include rights to special opportunities for employment based on the principle of positive discrimination. This move by the Nepali government represents meaningful legislative progress and demonstrates at least in principle, support for wage equality.

The 2017 Labor Act reinforced this by outlining a “prohibition on discrimination in remuneration for equal work.” However, it is also true that while ground-breaking, lawmakers and government institutions have not been able to comprehensively enforce this legislation. Nepali society still has not fully accepted these legislative changes, and in many rural communities, authorities have struggled to enforce equality, leaving a regional divide in the gender wage gap. Despite this, these laws provide a critical foundation, giving advocates, communities, and Dalit women themselves the legal tools to push for lasting change.

ADWAN: Association for Dalit Women Advancement of Nepal

For those fighting against wage inequality in Nepal, there is no greater tool than education. If marginalized groups can access education, then they are substantially more likely to escape the generational gender and caste-based cycles of poverty. Bisjnu Maya Pariyar and other advocates for Dalit Women set up the Association for Dalit Women Advancement of Nepal (ADWAN) in 1998 as a vehicle to fight against this discrimination. At the core of its work is the principle that “equality is unfeasible without education.” This is the idea that economic emancipation begins with education. This is why ADWAN funds a variety of adult literacy and scholarship programs aimed at women and Dalit women specifically.

There are signs that programs like this are having an impact. In 2001, the literacy rate for Dalit women stood at just 7.2%. By 2015, this had increased to 34.8% reflecting the work that organizations like ADWAN are doing to further women’s education and thus increase the economic opportunity available to Dalit women. 

Looking Ahead

Despite the persistence of the gender wage gap in Nepal, there is substantial evidence suggesting its effect is weakening. The government has made significant legislative progress in outlawing wage discrimination. In fact, the 2024 Women, Business and the Law index, which measures the laws that affect women’s economic opportunity, scored Nepal 80.6/100, higher than all its neighboring countries. While these legislative victories may not yet have trickled down to affect Nepali society fully, the direction of travel is undoubtedly positive. The tireless efforts of Dalit women organizing, educating and advocating for their rights has made much of this progress possible. From grassroots initiatives like ADWAN to national legislative change, a growing movement is demanding a more equitable future. If this momentum continues, the next generation of Dalit women may enter a workforce where equal pay is not an aspiration, but a reality.

– Adam Walsh

Adam is based in Nelson, Lancashire, UK and focuses on Good News and Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Tackling the Digital Divide in Ghana

Digital Divide in GhanaGhana is a digital leader in West Africa, yet many women remain excluded from its benefits due to a range of cultural, social and economic barriers. World Bank data reveals that in 2021, 65% of Ghanaian women used the internet compared to 72% of men, a 7% gap. Furthermore, the disparity is even greater in digital finance, where 59% of women accessed mobile money versus 65% of men. This digital divide in Ghana limits women’s economic opportunities and their ability to participate fully in today’s digital economy.

Digital exclusion reinforces existing poverty and inequality, as equal access to advanced technologies is crucial for supporting women’s economic independence and fostering a more inclusive society. However, closing the digital divide in Ghana will give women the agency and empowerment to shape their futures and thrive in the digital economy.

Reasons Behind the Digital Divide

  • Existing Gender Inequality. Women in Ghana often have lower literacy levels, higher unemployment rates and lower incomes than men. Therefore, this existing divide makes it harder for women to understand how to use a mobile phone, successfully access the internet and learn new digital skills.
  • Affordability Barriers. In Ghana, women earn less than a third of what their male counterparts make. High data costs and the expense of owning a mobile phone limit women’s ability to access digital technologies and incorporate them into daily life easily.
  • Social Norms. Cultural norms in Ghana often place women in caregiving roles, discouraging them from STEM careers and making many reluctant to use digital technologies. This hesitation widens the digital divide, limiting women’s access to education, jobs and economic opportunities.

Current Initiatives

The GSM Association is a nonprofit that represents the interests of global mobile operators. It supports efforts to empower Ghanaian women with digital skills and access through complementary programs. Its ICT Skills for Entrepreneurial Women Empowerment initiative has trained 15,000 artisans and 720 female entrepreneurs in key digital skills. These include internet use, mobile money and social media marketing, helping them grow businesses and improve entrepreneurial growth.

To further enhance digital competence, the organization’s Mobile Internet Skills Training Toolkit offers free, multilingual video courses for micro-entrepreneurs. This initiative improves digital literacy, fosters economic independence and challenges traditional gender roles, opening new pathways for women in the workforce. Building on this digital foundation, the National Health Care Insurance Scheme’s mobile renewal option has boosted active membership by more than 50%, with 83% of women using this convenient service via mobile devices.

While these initiatives have seen success, the GSM Association surveys indicate that other e-government services are utilized at a lower rate. To tackle the digital divide in Ghana, external factors that hinder women from accessing such technologies must be taken into consideration. These include raising awareness, boosting digital literacy and addressing affordability barriers through targeted campaigns, training programs and expanded access to low-cost internet and devices.

Looking Ahead

“The Access to Agency: Empowering Women Through Digital Inclusion Conference,” held in July 2025, brought these challenges to the forefront. Indeed, sessions focused on expanding women’s access to smartphones, using WhatsApp networks for digital financial services and entrepreneurship and developing tailored safeguards to protect women’s privacy and safety online. By highlighting these priorities, the conference reinforced the need for targeted strategies that help women benefit equally from digital progress.

By putting women’s digital inclusion at the center of future strategies, Ghana can unlock new opportunities, reduce poverty and build a fairer, more prosperous society for all.

– Beatrice Punt

Beatrice is based in Manchester, UK and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons