Lesotho, March 10 -- Mahatma Gandhi once observed that "the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." One might extend this reflection further: the greatness of a nation is perhaps better measured by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens.

Across the world, women continue to navigate a social and economic order that has historically been structured around male power. While progress has undeniably been made, the pace remains frustratingly slow. The 2023 Gender Inequality Index (GII) sits at 0.534, reflecting persistent disparities in reproductive health, political empowerment and labour market participation. The index is a composite measure: the lower the number, the closer a soci...