silhouette faces./PHOTO; Courtesy
Governments worldwide have taken visible steps to remove legal barriers that limit women’s economic participation.
From expanding parental leave to lifting restrictions on certain professions, reforms signal recognition that gender equality is closely linked to economic growth. But a pressing question remains: are these laws translating into tangible change in women’s daily lives?
A new Women, Business and the Law report by the World Bank examines not only the existence of gender-equality laws but also their enforcement.
Its findings reveal a persistent gap between legal progress and lived realities.
Legal Reforms Show Promise
Over the past two years, 68 countries introduced 113 reforms to strengthen women’s rights in employment, entrepreneurship, pay equity, and protection from violence.
Sub-Saharan Africa led regional reforms, implementing 33 changes the highest of any region.
In Madagascar and Somalia, restrictions preventing women from working in construction, manufacturing, and agriculture were lifted.
In Egypt, new policies expanded paid parental leave, mandated equal pay, and allowed flexible work arrangements.
“These reforms show what is possible when governments prioritize equality,” said Tea Trumbic, lead author of the report.
“Over the next decade, 1.2 billion young people half of them girls will enter the workforce. Ensuring equal opportunity for women benefits societies as a whole, not just women. It’s an economic must-have, not just a nice-to-have.”
The Enforcement Gap
Despite legislative progress, enforcement lags. On average, countries score 67 out of 100 for having laws that promote gender equality.
That score drops to 53 when enforcement is measured, and falls further to 47 when considering whether necessary systems like monitoring bodies, complaint mechanisms, and adequate funding are in place.
“On paper, most countries are doing reasonably well,” said Indermit Gill, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics at the World Bank Group.
“But when it comes to enforcing the laws, the average score drops, and when the systems needed to implement those rights are assessed, the adequacy score is just 47. These numbers reflect huge opportunity gaps.”
Globally, women still have only about two-thirds of the legal rights of men, and just 4% live in economies approaching full legal equality.
Institutional weaknesses, limited accountability, and insufficient resources continue to slow progress.
Safety and Economic Participation
Safety is one of the most critical areas where the gap between law and reality appears.
“True equality begins with safety. Whether at home, at work, or in public, women deserve protection to thrive,” said Norman Loayza, Director of the World Bank’s Policy Indicators Group.
“Globally, we’re falling short. We have only a third of the safety laws we need, and even then, enforcement is failing 80% of the time.”
Without adequate protection from violence, women face uncertainty in workplaces and are less likely to participate fully in the economy.
Entrepreneurship and Access to Credit
Entrepreneurship also shows uneven progress. While most economies legally allow women to start businesses, only about half ensure equal access to credit.
This creates a barrier to expanding enterprises and achieving financial independence. Legal permission alone cannot guarantee inclusion in financial systems.
Childcare is another structural constraint.
Fewer than half of the 190 economies studied provide financial or tax support for childcare, and in low-income countries, only 1% of the needed support mechanisms exist.
“Without accessible childcare, women often face reduced work hours, informal employment, or withdrawal from the labour force,” the report notes.
Interconnected Solutions Are Needed
The findings underscore that economic equality depends on interconnected systems: labour laws, financial regulations, safety protections, and care infrastructure must function together.
Weakness in one area can undermine gains in another. For African economies, where women contribute significantly to agriculture, informal trade, and small-scale enterprise, closing these gaps could produce measurable economic growth.
Tea Trumbic emphasized the importance of translating legal reforms into practical outcomes.
“Reforms are only the first step. Enforcement, accessible childcare, safe public spaces, and financial inclusion are essential to ensure women can truly benefit.”
The World Bank’s message is clear: legislative momentum is visible, but laws alone are insufficient. “The challenge is not simply writing better laws,” said Gill.
“It is ensuring that the promise of those laws is reflected in safer workplaces, accessible credit, reliable childcare, and equal pay in practice.”
Closing enforcement and system gaps can unlock not only social justice but also economic potential.
When women can work safely, start businesses, and access support systems, communities thrive, and societies benefit.
Achieving true economic equality for women is both a moral imperative and an investment in the future prosperity of nations.
