SDG Action

SDG Action › SDG Action publications › Gender Equality Special Focus 2026

Gender Equality Special Focus 2026

Gender Equality Special Focus 2026

Progress on SDG 5 — Gender Equality — was already badly off track before facing concerted political attacks. The US has withdrawn from UN Women, and at CSW70 in March became the sole country to vote against the Agreed Conclusions — the first time in the commission’s 70-year history that consensus has broken down. These are not isolated events. Gender equality is on the frontline of a broader effort to roll back commitments on human rights.

Photo: a mother is taught how to breastfeed in war-torn Sudan. © UNICEF/ Ahmed Mohamdeen Elfatih

Publication

  1. Why the UN needs women’s leadership

    The case for a woman Secretary-General is not just about symbolism. More representative leadership would strengthen the UN’s legitimacy, improve decision-making, and better equip the institution for an era of compounding global crises

    María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés

    SDGs: 5 10 16 17

  2. Removing restrictive gender norms through education

    Education can be a powerful force for shifting unequal gender norms, but schools do not transform them automatically. Embedding gender equality in education systems at scale – and defending that work against growing backlash – requires sustained political commitment, institutional reform, and public support

    Rachel Marcus

    SDGs: 2 3 4 5 6 8 10 16

  1. Empowering women during humanitarian crises

    As conflicts grow more protracted, climate shocks intensify, and aid budgets shrink, gender equality cannot be treated as optional. Women’s leadership and rights must be central to effective humanitarian action

    Asya Varbanova

    SDGs: 5 16 17

  2. The hidden toll of maternal malnutrition in conflict settings

    Conflict and displacement are driving a largely overlooked crisis in maternal nutrition, with grave consequences for women, babies, and long-term development. Protecting mothers’ health is one of the most effective ways to save lives and advance progress across the SDGs in fragile settings

    Geraldine Anup‑Willcocks, Óscar Serrano Oria

    SDGs: 2 3 4 5 6 8 16

  3. The cost of motherhood and the gender pay gap

    Motherhood still comes with a pay penalty, and women continue to be paid less for work of equal value – not by accident, but by design. Tackling these injustices means changing how pay is set and progression is measured and rewarded – through transparency, enforcement, and stronger worker protections

    Jocelyn Chu

    SDGs: 1 5 8 10

All publications