Shreya Basak, Shilpi Jain
2020. In an open letter to former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, nearly 400 women, including the celebrated singer Ellie Goulding and actor Emma Watson, come together to demand equal representation. With women from all walks of life, their call was simple – Would the upcoming COP26 have enough credibility without adequate representation of women?
It’s been four years since then, and the reality is not very different. While delegation counts at various Summits have increased over the years, women’s representation has stagnated or decreased. The recent COP29 corroborates this harsh truth with a skewed ratio of 8:70, with the former being women. The opening segment saw just about six leaders mention the impact of climate change on women. The trend is not new, and data over the years suggests an underrepresentation of women.
The low numbers of women decision-makers are not limited to Summits but across multiple domains – legal and judicial boxes, policymakers, entertainment, and even sports. This disparity also trickles down to numbers that suggest there were only 27 countries globally where 28 women served as Heads of State and/or Government as of June, and gender equality in the highest positions of power will not be reached for another 130 years—yet another reaffirmation of the fact that an equal representation of women remains an uphill task. Despite ample evidence to the contrary, women often remain underrepresented in key decision-making spaces, even though they are pivotal in driving solutions through their lived experiences. Women and girls, especially from vulnerable regions, bear the brunt of crises—be it the climate emergency, health challenges, rising conflicts, or unstable economies.
The UN Environment states that 80% of those displaced by climate change are women or girls who face heightened risks of poverty, violence, and unintended pregnancies as they seek safety. Yet, the inadequate voices of women from these vulnerable geographies continue to be invisible in their stories, skipping the reality of how crises affect women disproportionately.
The urban set-up is no different. A recent study estimated that women hold just 19.7% of board seats globally, and at this pace, the world could expect to reach near-parity in 2045! While the good news is that the share of women directors has more than tripled since the Indian government mandated that women be included on corporate boards, India is still behind the global average of 20% women on corporate boards. It falls far short of the 43% seen in France, the top-performing country. The recognition of what women contribute, or can contribute, to the survival of the planet and development remains limited. Hence, recognising the vital role of SDG 5, it is not surprising that the UN consistently underscores the importance of gender mainstreaming across all SDG Goals to achieve Agenda 2030.
And, it starts with Inclusive & Adequate Representation.
To begin with, ensuring a fixed number of mandated seats for women participants at Summits and Events. In this context, the recent Women’s Reservation Bill passed by the Indian government sets an example of a transformative action that reinforces women’s political representation as the only way to have their cards on the table. However, whilst this helps, does it help achieve equality for all on its own?
Encouraging and ensuring that women from vulnerable backgrounds take the stage is imperative, fostering inclusivity and shared empowerment. After all, isn’t it what the UN SDG principles lay out — local action, global impact!
A mere creation of the mandate will not be enough. Countries will need to ensure its smooth implementation and encourage the setting up of women’s policy agencies. This can open the floodgates to representing women and gender-related interests in policy development. Because as the famous saying goes, when you empower a woman, you empower a community.”
