KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — More than 200 business leaders, entrepreneurs, capital market participants and policymakers from 15 countries have agreed to speed up collective efforts to turn gender equality commitments into action as they concluded the 2025 UN Women Asia-Pacific Women’s Empowerment Principles Forum.

The November 18-19 event, themed “Business. Innovation. Impact.”, was organized by UN Women with support from two major regional projects on women’s economic empowerment funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and run by UN Women – the Gender Action Lab and WE RISE Together. It was also supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad, a government agency.

“The 2025 Asia-Pacific WEPs Forum brought together remarkable leaders and innovators committed to advancing gender equality in the workplace, marketplace and communities”, said Danielle Heinecke, Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia. “Australia is proud to support the Women’s Empowerment Principles across the region through targeted programmes. Together we are shaping economic systems that work for women - in all their diversity - and the progress showcased at this year’s Forum gives us great confidence for what we can achieve together.”

The Asia and the Pacific region has made notable gains in gender equality, and more than 3,000 companies in the region have committed to the Women’s Empowerment Principles, established by UN Women and United Nations Global Compact to guide companies to improve conditions for women workers. 
Yet, women’s labour force participation remains stagnant, and gender gaps persist across workplaces, marketplaces and capital markets. 

The participants at the forum discussed:

• How megatrends like artificial intelligence, demographic shifts and green transitions are reshaping the world of work and women’s participation in it.

“Business, innovation and impact are no longer separate conversations,” said Katja Freiwald, UN Women’s Regional Lead for Women’s Economic Empowerment in Asia and the Pacific. “Across Asia, business leaders are showing what real progress looks like, using innovation to advance women’s empowerment and gender equality. This is where the region’s strength lies -- turning equality into an engine for inclusive and sustainable growth.”

• How family-friendly policies, inclusive leadership and holistic approaches to building workplaces can empower women from corporate offices to factory floors.

Forum participants discussed innovations such as those piloted through the Women’s Empowerment Principles Corporate Action Lab under UN Women’s Gender Action Lab. In Malaysia, TalentCorp, a key project partner, works with 11 companies to co-design and scale workplace policies that promote care, flexibility and women’s leadership. The project also works in Indonesia, the Philippines and Cambodia.

YB Wong Shu Qi, Chairperson of TalentCorp, emphasised Malaysia’s ongoing progress. “This Forum reflects Malaysia’s commitment to ensuring women are equal partners in economic development. When women are empowered, families and communities grow stronger,” she said. She highlighted the importance of public–private collaboration in meeting Malaysia’s 60 per cent female labour participation target by 2030, noting that family-friendly policies and equal opportunities are essential for women to thrive.

• How to increase women’s participation in the economies of the Mekong Subregion. 
  
  WE RISE Together gathered partners from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam to officially launch Phase II of the project. Business leaders and policymakers agreed to join forces to open public and private procurement opportunities for women entrepreneurs, including women with disabilities, and to strengthen the ecosystem so women-owned businesses can compete and thrive through inclusive procurement.
• How to transform systems.

The Asia-Pacific Sustainable Finance Systems Lab was launched at the forum in partnership with IFC and with the support of the Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative and the World Federation of Exchanges. This first-of-its-kind, action-driven platform under UN Women’s Regional System Labs will convene leaders from regional stock exchanges and regulators to accelerate efforts to build more inclusive and gender-responsive capital markets.

“Women still face barriers that prevent them from unlocking their full economic potential,” said Judith Green, World Bank Group Country Manager for Malaysia. “This is a missed opportunity, and stock exchanges can drive change in a way that few others can. They influence markets, they connect policymakers, investors, and businesses to support sustainable development practices, and they play a critical role in rallying the private sector to increase women’s participation in business, which is essential to fostering more prosperous societies.”

New York – Urgent investment in women’s empowerment could unlock trillions for the global economy and lift millions of women out of poverty, according to the Gender Snapshot 2025 report released today by UN Women and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). The report finds that closing the gender digital divide alone could generate an additional $1.5 trillion for global GDP by 2030, benefit 343.5 million women and girls, and lift 30 million women out of poverty by 2050. Yet, without accelerated action, 351 million women and girls will still live in extreme poverty by 2030, and progress on every woman’s empowerment target under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will remain off track.

“Where gender equality has been prioritized, it has propelled societies and economies forward,” said Sima Bahous, UN Women Executive Director. “Targeted investments in gender equality have the power to transform societies and economies. Just closing the gender digital divide alone could benefit 343.5 million women and girls worldwide, lift 30 million out of poverty by 2050, and generate an estimated $1.5 trillion boost to global GDP by 2030.”

The report paints a mixed picture: while remarkable progress has been achieved in several areas, hard-won gains remain fragile in the face of mounting setbacks.

Progress has been achieved: girls are more likely than ever to finish school, maternal mortality has dropped by nearly 40% since 2000, and women’s leadership in climate negotiations has doubled. In countries with comprehensive measures on violence against women, spousal violence rates are 2.5 times lower. Over the past five years, 99 discriminatory laws have been reformed.

Yet, the report also warns of setbacks. Shrinking civic space, backlash against women’s rights, and declining funding for gender equality threaten to erode gains. If current trends persist, 351 million women and girls will remain in extreme poverty by 2030. Food insecurity is also gendered: in 2024, 64 million more adult women than men were moderately or severely food insecure. Today, 676 million women and girls live near deadly conflict—the highest number since the 1990s.

“With only five years left to achieve the 2030 Agenda, the costs of inaction are immense, but so are the potential returns,” said Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. “Accelerated investments in care, education, the green economy, labour markets, and social protection could lift 110 million women and girls from extreme poverty by 2050, unlocking $342 trillion in economic returns.”

Released ahead of the UN General Assembly and the Beijing+30 commemoration, the Gender Snapshot 2025 underscores that achieving gender equality is not only a matter of rights, but of smart economics and global sustainability.

While the global Gender Snapshot 2025 underscores both the scale of progress and the risks of backsliding worldwide, regional evidence tells a similar story. In April 2025, UN Women’s Regional Office for Arab States and ESCWA released the first edition of “Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: A Gender Snapshot of the Arab Region 2024,” offering a closer look at where Arab countries stand.

The global data resonates with regional findings.

The Arab region has made a notable level of progress in advancing women’s and girls’ rights. Maternal mortality dropped by 45% between 2000 and 2020, saving countless lives. Education outcomes have also improved, with 5.5 million more girls completing primary to lower secondary school since 2015. The gap in primary completion between girls and boys has narrowed to just three percentage points. In secondary school, girls are now outperforming boys, with a 68% completion rate compared to 66% for boys. Meanwhile, in the labour market, nearly a quarter of employed women (23%) are working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Despite these gains, serious challenges persist.

None of the Sustainable Development Goal 5 indicators on gender equality are on track, except mobile phone ownership. At the current pace, it would take an astonishing 115 years to close the labour force participation gap between women and men. Only one in five women in the region is employed or actively seeking work, compared to nearly half globally. Harmful practices remain widespread, with 29.4 million girls married before the age of 18. Arab women also shoulder a heavy and unequal burden of unpaid domestic and care work, spending 4.7 times more hours on it than men each day. And while women’s representation in parliaments has increased over the past decade, they still occupy just 18% of seats, leaving decision-making power largely out of reach.

The regional report outlines key recommendations to advance women’s empowerment across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These include accelerating legal reforms, eliminating discrimination against women and girls, and increasing investment in women’s empowerment.

As governments and leaders gather for UNGA80 and the Beijing+30 commemoration, the message is clear: women’s empowerment is both a moral imperative and a strategic investment. With just five years left to achieve the 2030 Agenda, the choice before the world is clear: either allow setbacks to deepen, or act now to deliver rights, opportunities, and shared prosperity for all women and girls.

Read the Global Gender Snapshot 2025 report, released today by UN Women and UN DESA, here

Also see the first edition of the Regional Gender Snapshot for the Arab States (2024), published in April 2025 by UN Women’s Regional Office for Arab States and ESCWA, here

In Albania, Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB) has not only changed how public funds are planned and allocated, it has also changed lives. GRB ensures that budgets work for everyone. By taking into account the unique needs of women, men, girls, and boys, it strives for a fairer distribution of resources.

UN Women has supported the integration of GRB in Albania since 2015, as part of the regional programme “Transformative Financing for Gender Equality in the Western Balkans,” which helps governments across the region plan, budget, and deliver on their gender equality commitments.

As a result, the number of gender equality programs in Albania’s central government budgets increased from 9 to 77 by 2025. Moreover, GRB is now embedded across critical sectors - social protection, education, health, agriculture, and justice - making public policies more inclusive and effective through gender-sensitive planning. Public investment for gender equality in Albania has increased from USD 90 million (2017–2019) to over USD 803 million (2025–2027).

Behind these numbers are real lives that have changed thanks to these reforms. This story follows the journeys of three women whose experiences reflect the impact of gender-sensitive investments: a young woman pursuing a military career, a 17-year-old girl studying in a male-dominated field, and an artist advocating for more women in the art scene.

Klarisa Vagollari, the woman serving her country in uniform

“The most inspiring moment for me was the first time I wore the uniform. I saw myself not simply as a girl with a dream, but as someone living that dream with strength, dignity, and determination,” says 22-year-old Klarisa Vagollari, who will soon officially join the Albanian Armed Forces.

With a degree in Finance and Accounting and currently completing a 10-month Officer Preparation Course, she’s pursuing a long-held ambition to serve her country. “Joining the army was always a calling for me,” Vagollari explains. “I believe military service is one of the most honorable ways to contribute to Albania’s security.”

Her journey has been made possible through targeted public investment in gender equality. Through GRB, increased support for women in education and employment has opened new paths in sectors like defence, where women were once underrepresented. In the last four years, there has been a 4% increase in the number of girls participating in military education. Recruitment policies have changed, and with gender equality now a national budget priority, cadets receive benefits such as monthly stipends, health coverage, and free accommodation, regardless of gender.

Klarisa Vagollari is one of 12 women among 38 cadets in her course. In the last five years, the number of female students in the Military Academy has increased by 5%, signalling a shift toward a more inclusive defence force.

However, one of her biggest challenges was confronting stereotypes in a traditionally male-dominated environment. “You’re often seen as a woman first, and a soldier second. Some male cadets think girls are privileged, so we constantly have to prove them wrong. But at the end of the day, we all climb the same mountain. I’ve learned that commitment, discipline, and capability don’t have a gender.”

She points to the 10 weeks of intense physical training as her toughest moment. “That’s where I learned the value of mental strength, self-discipline, and support from peers.”

Vagollari credits inclusive policies and targeted investments as key enablers of her journey. “When I see more women joining the military, it reminds me that this isn’t just my dream – it’s becoming a shared reality.”

Besiana Doçi, the young woman breaking stereotypes through education

In a classroom of 80 boys, Besiana Doçi is the only girl. At 17, she’s studying electrotechnics at the vocational high school in Kamza, just outside the capital Tirana. She’s confident in her decision.

“I feel great,” she says. “I don’t regret choosing this field, and I have no plans to change it.”

Doçi comes from the remote village of Arrez in Kukës, northern Albania. She moved to Kamza with her seven sisters, three of whom also attended the same school in different fields. When it came time to choose her path, Besiana Doçi knew she wanted something different.

“One of my sisters was studying nursing, and another was studying ICT, but I wanted something else,” she explains. “At first, my mom wasn’t so sure. She said, ‘You’re not going to be messing with wires.’ But both my parents have always let us make our own choices.”

The school has about 1,500 students, many from migrant families from northern Albania. Girls make up around 20% of the total, but in electrotechnics, Doçi is the only one. That hasn’t discouraged her, thanks in part to family support and public investment in girls’ education through GRB. Since 2021, there has been more than a 2% increase in the number of female students receiving scholarships. Girls who choose non-traditional vocational subjects like Doçi’s receive a 100% scholarship. Others receive 50%.

The measure is designed to encourage girls to pursue careers in science, technology, and engineering. As a result, female enrollment in ICT programs in Albania grew by over 10% between 2020 and 2023.

Her male classmates have been supportive, she says, but some of her female peers didn’t react well to her choice.

“A few girl friends were very surprised and didn’t understand why I chose this path. To this day, we just don’t hang out anymore,” she says. Despite that, Doçi stayed focused. “What I enjoy the most is the practical work. I’m really looking forward to the third year when we get to work in the field.”

She’s already putting her skills to use at home. “When something breaks - a plug, a socket - I fix it. In our new house, the electrician didn’t finish the wiring, so I did it myself. It’s still working just fine.”

Doçi has found encouragement from her classmates, teachers, and family. She’s determined to become an engineer. “In class, it doesn’t matter that I’m the only girl. We’re all students.”

Outside of school, she plays football, a passion she brought from her village. “We used to play girls versus boys, and we didn’t let them win,” she smiles. “I still play with my sisters.”

Her advice to other girls is clear: “If you like something – even if people say it’s a ‘boy’s job’ – go for it. Don’t let others decide for you.”

Adela Demetja, the woman advocating for more women in the art scene

For decades, Albania’s post-communist art scene sidelined women artists, leaving them under-documented and nearly invisible. Curator Adela Demetja*, founder of “Tirana Art Lab - Center for Contemporary Art,” experienced this firsthand. After studying cultural management and curating abroad, she returned home in 2021 with a clear mission: to place women artists at the center of Albania’s contemporary art narrative.

But limited public investment made progress slow, until GRB was introduced into the country’s public finance system.

GRB led the Ministry of Culture to revise its funding schemes. One major shift in early 2025 was the introduction of annual funding for nonprofit cultural organizations, moving beyond one-off project grants.

“For the first time, we could think long-term,” says Adela Demetja. “We could plan ambitious exhibitions and invest in rediscovering women’s artistic legacies.”

With this support, “Tirana Art Lab” launched a landmark exhibition dedicated to textile artist Diana Miziri, a pioneering but nearly forgotten figure, presented alongside her husband’s sculptures. More than just an exhibition, it was a reclamation of a silenced chapter in Albanian art history.

“The 1990s remain largely undocumented in Albanian art, especially the contributions of women during and after the fall of communism,” Demetja explains. “Since Diana is no longer alive, I chose to exhibit her work with her husband’s to highlight their artistic dialogue and shed light on an overlooked era.”
Adela Demetja had envisioned this exhibition for over a year, but funding had always been a barrier, until now.

“Of course, the Ministry has its own criteria, but it’s more open to diverse programming than some regional schemes. That flexibility gave us the space to realize this project.”

This shift in cultural funding policy is a clear example of how public budgets, when designed with gender equality in mind, can support social transformation, visibility, and justice.

Yet structural challenges persist. Many nonprofit cultural organizations, most of them led by women, still struggle to cover basic operational costs like salaries, rent, and administration. These are rarely included in project-based funding.

To address this, independent art organizations joined forces and created the Albanian Visual Art Network in 2024. This network now advocates for sustainable public funding, operational support, and co-financing mechanisms needed to access European grants – since these typically cover only 60–70% of the total project costs. The rest must be raised by the organizations themselves, often through independent fundraising, sponsorships, or other alternative income sources.

“You can’t build long-term cultural infrastructure without stable support,” Adela Demetja emphasizes.

* At the time of the interview, Adela Demetja was serving as the Director of Tirana Art Lab. She has since been appointed as the Director of the Albanian Gallery of Arts.

These gender-sensitive investments are driving progress in the country by expanding social and health services for women, empowering women in rural areas, improving education access for girls, increasing economic opportunities, and promoting justice and safety for survivors of violence.