2025 had this bad news of wars that still continue, unfortunately. Years ago when I said as a coporate executive that war was bad news, a senior executive told me that war is not bad news for everyone. I said “Yes, I understand that some are making money out of it, while others are dying. How much would balance it out. Is there an equation in this?” I still strongly believe that war is not a profitable endeavour for any party. Unless proven otherwise on piece of paper.
We have seen that instead of invading another country, providing jobs for women letting women to go to work is a better use of the infrastructure of the country, which will make countries become rich, and end poverty and bring in prosperity as well as growth.
2025 was a great year for me as the Founding Chair of the Women 20 of G20 (W20). It contained 3 pieces of separate great news:
Firstly, 103 million more women were employed in last 10 years in G20 countries. Even though many women has left their jobs due to Covid 19. The additional women to the workforce were mostly employed in India, Indonesia and US. This was great news for the G20 as well as the economies cited. We will see more of it in the coming years in these countries’ results (1).
Secondly, in the G20 among the thing outreach groups the W20 was ranked as the second outreach group after the B20 (Business 20). It means that people look at what the B20 says first and than they look at the W20 says within the conduct of the G20. This is result of hardwork in W20 in each country.
Thirdly, G20 countries have used 74 of W20 recommendations and 84.2 % of G20 countries implemented at least one gender related reform between 2014-2024. According to the report prepared by an independent research group (2) who had reviewed use of the W20 declarations and the performance. Something to be proud of as well.
(1) Kelsey Harris report for Center for Global Development (CGD)
(2) HKS Women’s Alumni Network, From advocacy to Implementation, A decade of Women20 Influence on Global Gender Policy (2025-2024)