Gender-equality index highlights big data gaps ahead of 2030 deadline
Data has the power to hold governments to account, highlight hidden issues and change laws, policies and budget decisions
London — World leaders who have pledged to end gender inequality by 2030 will miss the ambitious target if they do not accelerate efforts to plug “profound” data gaps, experts said ahead of launching a new gender index on Wednesday. Global partnership Equal Measures 2030, which is overseeing the index, said data has the power to hold governments to account, highlight hidden issues and change laws, policies and budget decisions. “Data saves lives,” Equal Measures director Alison Holder told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “It captures the attention of policy makers and focuses their efforts on the right issues.” But she said a survey of more than 600 experts from 50 countries show most believe that governments do not prioritise data collection on issues affecting girls and women. World leaders agreed in 2015 on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at helping everyone live healthier, more prosperous lives on a cleaner planet. The SDG Gender Index, which aims to measure whethe...
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