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| According to UNDP, it is necessary to improve gender inequality through education. (Photo: QT) |
Addressing gender inequality in Asia-Pacific starts with correcting unfair regulations and improving education, according to United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Director Kanni Wignaraja.
In some countries, women do not have bank accounts or can not own land, said the UNDP regional director. This is a reality that needs to be addressed and these regulations need to be amended. In terms of education, she said, there needs to be a change in thinking and action.
According to the Asia-Pacific Human Development Report 2024, which Wignaraja released in Tokyo, Japan last week set three priorities for development: putting people at the center, adjusting growth strategies to create more jobs while protecting the environment, and focusing on political reform and scientific development to turn ideas into reality.
In the current situation, Ms. Wignaraja stressed that creating space for women is a big issue.
According to the report, there are about 800 million women in Asia-Pacific who are not participating in the labor force but want to work. UNDP estimates that if these women were employed, they would contribute about $4.5 trillion to the region's total GDP by 2025.
However, Ms Wignaraja said achieving development goals was also complicated by the high debt levels in many countries. She noted that many countries were paying more in interest on their loans than they were spending on health, education and social welfare. This also hampered efforts to build greener economies.
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