GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE UK

GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWERMENT
OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN THE UK:
Meeting the challenge of the Sustainable Development Goals
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report presents evidence about
the progress on gender equality in
the UK against the UN Sustainable
Development Goals, particularly
SDG 5, within five thematic areas:
power, participation and leadership;
education; economy; justice and
violence against women and girls;
and culture (including arts, sport and
technology). Informed by Women and
Girls: the British Council approach,
the report also looks to the international
picture and draws comparisons where
this is meaningful.
We hope that this report will provide an essential
resource of good practice for the British Council’s
international partners, as well as a high-level stocktake
of progress across the UK that will inform the work of
government at all levels, civil society and the private
sector. We hope these twin elements will support the
achievement of the SDGs globally and domestically.
The research strategy, overseen by an independent
advisory group, consisted of a widespread call for
evidence, the collation of over 400 pieces of research,
35 interviews with leading UK and international
stakeholders in gender equality across government, the
private sector and civil society and all the nations of the
UK, and a review of findings with expert focus groups.
Case studies throughout the report illustrate promising
practices and initiatives across policy and direct service
provision in the UK alongside international case studies
that show where the UK can learn from other countries.
PARTICIPATION, POWER
AND LEADERSHIP
Women’s equal participation in political life is linked
to many other indicators for gender equality and
empowerment. The UK Parliament, the national
parliaments and assemblies in Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland, and local government are a significant
distance from achieving parity, although Wales briefly
achieved 50 per cent women in its Assembly in 2003
before experiencing a decline. Evidence suggests that
efforts need to be strengthened. The UK has academic
expertise and would benefit from learning from other
countries where legislative and policy change have
resulted in significant and sustained progress.
There has been significant progress in the UK, although
men remain over-represented in almost all positions
of power and decision-making in the UK, and a sexist,
sometimes hostile culture in the media impedes
women’s advancement. Women’s organisations in other
countries have run successful media campaigns and in
the UK there are good examples of using technology
platforms to build and amplify the voice of girls and
women. Recently, businesses have begun to prioritise
the advancement of women in leadership and there is
a wealth of research and reports available that
document good practice and good results.
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