UK not up to speed on female leadership, says British Council

A report commissioned by the British Council says the UK must address the lack of women in leadership positions so it can meet the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls in the UK: Meeting the challenge of the Sustainable Development Goals analyses gender equality in the UK in relation to the UN’s 17 SDGs. The UN goals are aimed at ending international poverty, hunger and inequality, support action on climate change, improve access to health and education, and build strong institutions and partnerships, over the next 15 years. Goal number five addresses gender equality. 

The report, published on 24 October, identified that women hold less than 30 per cent of the positions of power and influence in most areas of senior political life, business leadership, public life and civil society in the UK.