The latest World Economic Forum report records an acceleration in progress toward closing the gender gap, especially in countries where women’s representation in politics and business is growing. In Iceland, parity has been maintained for 16 years; in Rwanda, women hold more than 61% of parliamentary seats; and in the UAE, women make up more than 50% of the Federal National Council.
Particular emphasis is placed on women’s participation in science and technology. In the UAE, women account for about 70% of all university graduates and up to 61% in STEM fields. Women play key roles in the country’s scientific projects, including the Mars mission "Hope."
International experience shows that greater participation of women in government bodies and corporate governance is consistently associated with greater attention to health care, education and social protection.
Although the degree of causal evidence varies, in a number of countries — notably India — this link has been confirmed by quasi-experimental studies showing changes in budgetary priorities as women’s leadership expands. In other countries (Norway, France, Rwanda, the UAE and Iceland), a similar trend is observed at the institutional level — through a reallocation of political and managerial priorities toward human capital and long-term sustainability.
This is less about equality than about a reassessment of the agenda, where sustainable solutions grounded in diverse experience and expertise come to the fore.
