6 Tireless Advocates For Gender Equality

Despite decades of progress, society still has a long way to go before it can achieve true gender equality, with women around the world continuing to be underrepresented in a wide variety of fields. Countless organizations are working hard to ensure that women are treated fairly in all aspects of life. Here, in no particular order, are some groups advocating for equal rights for all.

First up, at #1, we have Women Deliver. It collaborates with international and regional organizations to put women's rights, especially their sexual and reproductive health, front and center in humanitarian action. Utilizing its experience in global development, it helps organizations apply a gender lens to their programs, policies, and investments so they can better meet the needs of females worldwide.

The organization's Young Leaders Program elevates the work of young advocates taking a stand for gender equality, equipping them with knowledge and skills and connecting them to various platforms, people, and resources to amplify their influence. Every three years, the global Women Deliver Conference brings together thousands of decision-makers from civil society, governments, and international agencies alongside advocates and journalists, fostering dialogue, evidence and solution sharing, accountability, and action around the globe.

Taking the #2 spot is the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation. It was founded in 1993, when reports reached Sweden of mass sexual assault occurring during the wars in the former Yugoslavia. The Foundation promotes women's rights in conflict-affected areas, supporting and cooperating with various local partner organizations that tackle issues such as gender-based violence prevention, equal participation, economic empowerment, and security.

Its Gemaket program offers young women who have recently arrived in Sweden a safe space to speak up, be themselves, and get to know other girls who grew up in the country. Participants meet every other week in small groups to talk about society, gender equality, and the things that matter in their lives.

Next up, at #3, we have The Riveter, a digital professional community built by women for all. It aims to achieve gender equity in the workplace by building and engaging its thriving online community, connecting career-focused women with allies that can provide the professional support they need to thrive.

Members have access to online events where they can consult with a curated group of subject-matter experts for advice and guidance. Meanwhile, The Riveter's Employer Circle is a cohort of employers focused on achieving and sharing equitable workplace best practices. It does this through virtual learning events and various online resources, including curated content from prominent writers and thinkers.

Coming in at #4 is the Women's Budget Group, an independent network of leading academic researchers, policy experts, and campaigners that scrutinizes UK government policy from a gender perspective. The organization aims to influence policymakers and produce robust analysis. It also works to build the knowledge and confidence to talk about feminist economics by offering training and creating accessible resources.

The Women's Budget Group Early-Career Network is a place for feminist researchers to connect with their peers and established experts. Members gain access to training workshops on topics such as the publishing process and how to communicate their research to a wider audience. They also gain the opportunity to engage in discussion and network with established feminist economists and other senior academics in relevant fields.

Next, at #5, is Girl Up. Founded by the United Nations Foundation in 2010, it is a global leadership development initiative that trains and gives girls the tools they need to become gender equality advocates and activists. Its programs help young advocates hone their skills in community organizing, goal setting, and effective communication.

The organization's WiSci Girls STEAM Camp aims to help bridge the gender gap in STEM-related fields through access to education, mentorship opportunities, and transformational leadership training. It provides secondary school girls from around the world an opportunity to dive into STEAM subjects alongside their peers, and develop their skills in a unique cross-cultural environment, with all expenses paid.

Finally, at #6, we have Equal Measures 2030. An independent civil society and private sector-led partnership, it helps fuel progress toward gender equality by connecting data and evidence with advocacy and action. Through its data and analysis work, the organization aims to provide a global snapshot of the progress being made toward the UN's Sustainable Development Goals for girls and women.

Equal Measures 2030's SDG Gender Index measures the state of gender equality in various countries, aligned to 14 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and topics including health, climate change, and others. Its data-for-advocacy training improves data literacy skills and strengthens advocates' understanding of how to interpret, package, and present critical evidence on a range of issues affecting women.