Despite decades of commitments and measurable progress, gender inequality remains deeply entrenched within both developed and developing economies. As the G7 prepares to meet this year in Évian under France’s presidency, this paradox must be addressed with urgency: why, in a world of unprecedented technological and economic transformation, are advances towards gender equality still so slow and even regressing in some cases?
Persistent inequalities in a transforming world
Since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, progress has been real but uneven. Legislative frameworks, such as quotas and pay equity laws, have driven change in several G7 countries, improving women’s access to education and leadership. Yet structural inequalities persist across all sectors.
Globally, women still earn less than men, carry out 2.5 times more unpaid care work, and remain underrepresented in leadership roles. Only 27% of parliamentarians worldwide are women. In the private sector, they hold around 25% of leadership positions and less than 10% of CEO roles. In emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, women represent just 22% of the workforce and hold less than 14% of the leadership positions, with persistent gaps in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
These inequalities are not only unjust; they are also economically and politically costly. Closing gender gaps could increase global gross domestic product by more than 20%. Gender-based violence alone represents a significant economic burden in many countries.
Backlash and the rise of anti-rights movements
A key factor is the growing backlash against gender equality. Organised anti-rights movements are gaining influence, with significant financial resources estimated at $1.8 billion in Europe between 2019 and 2023. They are actively challenging policies and narratives supporting women’s rights.
This backlash is also cultural and digital. The rise of masculinist ideologies documented in the latest report of France’s Haut Conseil à l’Égalité entre les femmes et les hommes, and the normalisation of sexist content, particularly online, are reshaping attitudes, especially among younger generations. At the same time, education systems continue to reproduce gender stereotypes, limiting girls’ participation in STEM and access to future-oriented sectors such as AI.
Legislative progress: necessary but not sufficient
Over the past decade, legislative action has been effective. In France, for example, women now hold nearly 47% of corporate board positions following the Copé-Zimmermann law, and their representation in executive leadership has increased under the Rixain law.
However, these advances remain partial. Laws alone cannot dismantle deeply rooted norms, unconscious biases or structural barriers. Nor can they fully address emerging challenges such as digital violence, algorithmic biases or inequalities in fast-growing technological sectors.
Without a systemic approach based on education, current transformations, particularly in AI, might increase existing inequalities.
Technology and AI: a critical turning point
AI produces both risks and opportunities. Today, 88% of AI systems are developed by predominantly male teams, increasing the likelihood of biased outcomes: 44% of AI solutions showed gender bias. Digital spaces have also become new arenas for gender-based violence, further limiting women’s participation: 96% of deepfakes are pornographic, targeting women.
Yet these transformations offer a unique opportunity to correct historical imbalances. Ensuring women’s full participation in the design and governance of emerging technologies would foster more inclusive innovation and unlock significant economic potential.
Strengthening G7 action
In this context, the experience of the Gender Equality Advisory Council, established in 2018, provides a valuable model for strengthening gender equality within global governance. The 2025 impact assessment conducted under Canada’s G7 presidency confirmed that GEAC has contributed to maintaining gender equality as a consistent priority within the G7 and to enhancing the coherence of its commitments. It highlights a strong alignment between GEAC recommendations and G7 outcomes, including initiatives such as the G7 Dashboard on Gender Gaps and commitments on education, STEM participation and gender-based violence.
More broadly, the assessment underscores that structured advisory mechanisms – combined with access to decision-makers and alignment with presidency priorities – can improve both the ambition and the implementation of policies. Strengthening GEAC’s integration into decision-making processes, linking recommendations to measurable targets and financing, and reinforcing accountability frameworks would further enhance its impact.
Place gender equality at the top of the G7’s agenda
In a context of global uncertainty and backlash on women’s rights, gender equality must be recognised as a strategic imperative.
To accelerate progress, G7 leaders should act on four key levers:
Transform education systems by embedding gender equality early and promoting inclusive STEM
pathways.
Strengthen regulation and public policies by addressing digital violence, ensuring transparency in AI systems and linking public funding to equality outcomes.
Invest in women’s economic empowerment through gender-responsive budgeting and targeted financing.
Ensure the full, equal and effective participation of women at all levels of political, economic and social decision-making.
These actions must be infused across all G7 priorities, from technology to economic and social policies.
Towards a more inclusive future
At a time when global imbalances threaten stability and resilience, gender equality offers a powerful lever for transformation. More inclusive societies are not only fairer but are also more innovative and more sustainable.
The G7 Évian Summit represents a pivotal moment. Faced with accelerating transformations, leaders have a choice: allow inequalities to persist or seize this opportunity to build a more inclusive and forward-looking world.
The path forward is clear. What is needed now is the political will to act decisively and collectively in order to build a more democratic world.
