The State of Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Indian Ocean Rim.

This infographic provides an updated snapshot of the status of women’s economic empowerment in the Indian Ocean Rim region by visualizing data that was included in the 2020 report “Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Indian Ocean Rim: Progress and Challenges”. Data from the 2015 baseline study “Enabling Women’s Contributions to the Indian Ocean Rim Economies” are also included to illustrate trends over time.

Both studies have confirmed that women participate in nearly every aspect of the economy in the countries of the Indian Ocean Rim – in both formal and informal work. While the countries in this region vary considerably in terms of their areas, populations and levels of economic development, they share many of the same challenges and opportunities for women’s economic empowerment. It is important to note that the 2020 report includes data from sources published prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has further exacerbated many of the obstacles to women’s economic empowerment in the region.

In 2018, Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Member States reaffirmed their commitment to women’s economic empowerment in the Balaclava Declaration on Women’s Economic Empowerment and Gender Equality as a Pre-Requisite for Sustainable Development. Member States acknowledged that women’s economic empowerment is a foundational element of gender equality and the full and equal realisation of women’s human rights and is thus integral to all dimensions of inclusive and sustainable development.

UN Women would especially like to thank the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for their contributions to producing the infographic and the associated report.