«The latest available Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 data from 2022 show that the world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030. Despite progress in reforming laws, closing gaps in legal protections and removing discriminatory laws could take up to 286 years based on the current rate of change. COVID-19 and the backlash against women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights are further diminishing the outlook for gender equality. Violence against women remains high, global health, climate and humanitarian crises have further increased risks of violence, especially for the most vulnerable women and girls, and women feel more unsafe than they did before the pandemic. Women’s representation in positions of power and decision-making remains below parity. Nearly halfway to the 2030 endpoint for the SDGs, the time to act and invest in women and girls is now.»