Legal Frameworks for Gender Equality Lacking Everywhere

Legal frameworks that promote, enforce and monitor equality between the sexes and non-discrimination are lacking in all regions of the world. In its 2025 report on the Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations report that "gender equality remains elusive". This is a result of discriminatory laws as well as persistent gender stereotypes and norms, the organization writes. However, legal progress has been made in some places, with 99 positive reforms reported between 2019 and 2024. While most improvements were made in the area of work and pay, almost half of countries still have restrictions preventing men and women to do the same work, while only 44 percent mandate equal remuneration for equal work.

As of 2024 data, Australia and New Zealand are doing the best and have officially been rated as totally covered by legal frameworks for employment and economic benefits of women. In the remaining three areas, overall/public life, violence against women and marriage/family, the region scores somewhat lower, however, achieving coverage of above 90 percent on the latter two issues, but only ranking at 75 percent for overall frameworks, showing how despite successes, gaps persist.

Europe and Northern America only reach a score of 93 percent in the area of employment, while falling as low as 82.5 percent for overall frameworks, 84.5 percent for marriage and family and 88.1 percent for violence against women. Eastern and Southeastern Asia as well as Latin America are doing quite well concerning their legal frameworks, with 81 percent and 86 percent, respectively, achieved on marriage and family and other scores ranging between 66 and 79 percent. Sub-Saharan Africa follows not far behind, with the overall frameworks two-thirds of the way established and the other indicators already above 70 percent.

Regions that fare most poorly are Northern Africa/Western Asia, Central and Southern Asia and Oceania. The employment and economic equality of women is especially lacking frameworks here. Additionally, laws surrounding marriage and family were rated poorly in North Africa and the Middle East, a predominantly Muslim region.