Challenges for women and girls in Asia: Why have some countries progressed better than others?

The United Nations released the latest data on women’s rights and gender equality in October, and it paints a mixed picture. The number of women in positions of power has been rising, but there are still just 19 female heads of state, and only 4 percent of top CEOs are women. Equally, school completion and literacy rates among women are better than ever, yet overall women are concentrated in low-paid jobs and unpaid housework.

The mixed progress of women may be especially prominent in Asia. India’s prime minister has spoken often for women’s rights but been criticized for failing to deliver on promises. China saw tension rise with the United States when it imprisoned prominent women’s rights activists while jointly hosting a summit on the same issue. And the latest U.N. data find that child marriage remains high in Southern Asia and female labor participation has actually fallen over the last 20 years in East Asia.

On November 12, we invite you to join the Center for Universal Education (CUE) at Brookings for a discussion on how women’s rights are faring in three Asian countries: China, India, and Sri Lanka. After the discussion, panelists will take questions from the audience. Following the event, there will be a reception co-hosted with the U.N. Foundation’s Women, Girls’ and Population Program.

Register here to attend the event.