Originally published here.

In March 2021, the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson convened an independent group of experts to form a Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC), tasked with supporting the UK’s G7 Presidency by galvanising ambition on gender equality so that women and girls across the globe drive and benefit from the pandemic recovery, including but not limited to those marginalised by race, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status.

The 2021 GEAC builds on the GEAC convened for the first time by the Canadian G7 Presidency in 2018, and the second GEAC convened by the French Presidency in 2019. Chaired by Sarah Sands and led at ministerial level by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and Minister for Women and Equalities, the Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP, it has sought to champion the core principles of freedom, opportunity, individual humanity and dignity for women and girls around the world.

Against the backdrop of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 GEAC has directed its attention towards practical recommendations for how the G7 can work together to build back better, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to succeed, with a focus on both domestic and global action. These have been structured around the UK Presidency’s priority themes in relation to gender equality: education, empowerment and ending violence against women and girls, while drawing on the Council’s strong expertise in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). There are strong links between these three areas.

Following discussions with G7 Sherpas on gender equality, Sarah Sands and GEAC member and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr Denis Mukwege presented the GEAC’s recommendations to G7 Leaders at the Carbis Bay Summit in June:

An acknowledgement of the disproportionate effect of COVID-19 on women and girls, globally, and increased funding for, and dedicated action towards gender-transformative development programming, sexual and reproductive health services, and addressing the ‘shadow pandemic’ of violence against women and girls (VAWG).

A pandemic response and recovery that takes account of the needs of women and girls, and tracks the effect of recovery initiatives on men and women, taking into account factors such as age, income, disability and ethnicity.

At least 12 years of gender-transformative education for all, building on G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ commitments on girls’ education and, domestically, supporting schools to implement gender-responsive policies to benefit girls’ physical and mental wellbeing.

Strengthened domestic and international social care infrastructure, and access to affordable quality care, including childcare, through increased public investment to address gender imbalances in care work, both paid and unpaid.

Equal access to capital and labour markets, through removing barriers and creating opportunities for jobs and funding for women to thrive in the modern economy, and tailoring policies to support women-owned micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

Recognition of the impact that global trade has on women as traders, workers and consumers with G7 Leaders building trading relationships that benefit women and girls around the world.

A gender-responsive approach to climate financing, investment and policies, including at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26), and for G7 Leaders to target investment in girls’ education, re-skilling of women, and lifelong learning to ensure that women and girls can benefit from the ‘green revolution’.

Acknowledgement of the risk to global prosperity and women’s economic empowerment caused by a gender imbalance in STEM education and careers, and commitment to prioritising progress towards gender parity through concrete action.

Action to address the digital gender divide by supporting initiatives that provide women and girls in all areas with affordable, reliable and safe internet and mobile services; and to counteract algorithm bias which puts women, girls and marginalised groups at a disadvantage.

An end to the stereotyping and unequal treatment of women in the media, including by endorsing the Generation Equality Forum Charter of Commitments for Cultural and Creative Industries.

Global action to end violence against women and girls through increased investment in prevention and response; the ratification of relevant conventions, including the Istanbul Convention; and enhanced support for eradicating female genital mutilation (FGM).

Action to tackle online harassment and abuse of women and girls, through the introduction of legislation that establishes a duty of care on technology companies to improve the safety of users online, including appropriate controls for online pornography sites.

Condemnation of sexual violence used as a method of war as an international red line, by developing an International Convention to denounce it, in line with other prohibited weapons in war, such as landmines and chemical weapons.

Continued action to drive monitoring of progress on gender equality, and accountability on commitments, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), through the establishment of a G7 GEAC observatory mechanism to measure and report on G7 progress.

A number of the recommendations, or the issues behind them, were taken forward as commitments in the Carbis Bay Communiqué, including specific action on girls’ education, addressing the underrepresentation of women in STEM and strengthening the international response to conflict-related sexual violence.[footnote 1] We urge G7 Leaders to ensure that these are swiftly and fully implemented.

This report builds on the 14 recommendations, with additional background, evidence and examples, and a particular focus on ‘what works’. It also includes a number of annexes. The first sets out the GEAC’s proposal for a gender equality monitoring and accountability mechanism, requested by G7 Leaders in the Carbis Bay Communiqué. The second sets out how GEAC recommendations apply in a particular G7 regional setting: Cornwall, where the Leaders’ Summit took place in June 2021. The GEAC has also engaged on the situation facing women and girls in Afghanistan, and the GEAC’s open letter on this issue is included at Annex III.

By securing an intention from Leaders to convene the GEAC as a standing feature of all G7 Presidencies, future Councils will have an opportunity to track Leaders’ progress against their commitments and against key gender equality indicators. We look to the upcoming German Presidency and the G7 as a whole to demonstrate its global leadership by taking forward a consistent and sustained focus on gender equality.

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