G20 commits to halve digital gender gap by 2030

To this end, the countries will address gender norms and barriers to accessibility, affordability, adoption, and use of digital technologies, the declaration has stated. It has also proposed promotion of regulatory policy frameworks that enable all women and girls to actively participate in the formulation and implementation of national digital strategies, including enhancing digital literacy and skills.

Taking note of increasing threats to women’s safety due to enhanced digital penetration, the declaration proposes to identify and eliminate all potential risks women and girls encounter from increased digitalisation, including all forms of online and offline abuse, by encouraging adoption of safety-by-design approaches in digital tools and technologies. It calls for developing gender-responsive policies to create an enabling, inclusive, and non-discriminatory digital economy for women-led and -owned businesses, including MSMEs.

The declaration acknowledges the disproportionate impact of climate change, biodiversity loss, desertification and pollution on all women and girls, and states that “accelerating climate action must have gender equality at its core”. It calls for supporting increased women’s “participation, partnership, decision-making and leadership in climate change mitigation and adaptation, and disaster risk reduction strategies and policy frameworks on environmental issues’’.

The declaration also speaks of investments in inclusive, sustainable and resilient agriculture and food systems, and supporting affordable, safe and nutritious food and healthy diets in school meal programmes. It has proposed the promotion of innovation for inclusive agri-value chains and systems by and for women farmers.

“Reaffirm our commitment to achieving the Brisbane Goal to reduce the gap in labour force participation and implementing the G20 Roadmap Towards and Beyond the Brisbane Goal ‘25 by 25’ and ask the ILO and OECD to report progress annually,’’ it states.

The G20 has supported equal and affordable access to quality education for girls, with an emphasis on STEM education and digital technologies. The declaration emphasises the need for inclusive access to employment opportunities and focus on closing the gender pay gap.