'What gets measured gets done." It is a well-worn maxim attributed to everyone from management guru Peter Drucker to physicist Lord Kelvin. Regardless of who said it first, the point is a crucial one: If there are no data illustrating a problem or imbalance, it is unlikely to be a consideration, let alone a priority, for those in a position to address it.
And solutions, if they are attempted, are unlikely to be well-targeted or efficient. This is certainly the case for gender equality.
One might assume that, in today's world of information overload, policymakers have ample data with which to diagnose problems, devise innovative solutions, monitor implementation and adjust policies to maximise their impact.
