G20 Leaders Pledge To Halve Digital Gender Gap By 2030
The G20 New Delhi Leaders” Declaration has placed a significant focus on women”s empowerment, covering various issues such as wage gaps, sexual violence, employment opportunities, and food security. A key agenda of the summit is addressing the gender digital divide, with the G20 committing to halve the digital gender gap by 2030. This commitment entails tackling gender norms and barriers to the accessibility, affordability, adoption, and use of digital technologies. The declaration also advocates for regulatory policy frameworks that allow women and girls to actively participate in national digital strategies, including efforts to enhance digital literacy and skills.
Recognising the growing threats to women”s safety in the digital realm, the declaration aims to identify and eliminate potential risks associated with increased digitalisation, including online and offline abuse. It encourages the adoption of safety-by-design approaches in digital tools and technologies. Moreover, the declaration calls for the development of gender-responsive policies to create an inclusive and non-discriminatory digital economy that supports women-led and -owned businesses, including micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The declaration acknowledges the disproportionate impact of climate change, biodiversity loss, desertification, and pollution on women and girls. It emphasises the integration of gender equality into climate action, disaster risk reduction strategies, and policy frameworks to environmental issues. Additionally, the G20 aims to invest in inclusive, sustainable, and resilient agriculture and food systems. It advocates for affordable, safe, and nutritious food, particularly in school meal programs, and promotes innovation in agri-value chains led by women farmers.
The G20 reaffirms its commitment to achieving the Brisbane Goal of reducing the gender gap in labor force participation. It also highlights the importance of inclusive access to quality education for girls, particularly in STEM education and digital technologies. The declaration emphasises the need for equal access to employment opportunities and addresses the gender pay gap.
As part of these efforts, the G20 has announced the establishment of a “Working Group on Empowerment of Women” to support the G20 Women”s Ministerial. This working group”s inaugural meeting is scheduled to take place during Brazil”s G20 presidency. The G20 leaders are dedicated to advancing gender equality and empowering women across various sectors.
