The G20 group of the world’s 20 most powerful economies and the African and European Unions has a group dedicated to women empowerment – the Women 20 (W20). Set up in 2015 to promote gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, it’s one of 13 official engagement groups in the “Sherpa track” of the G20. It advises governments on how they can promote women’s economic empowerment and gender equality. Narnia Bohler-Muller, a legal specialist and gender equality researcher, was the head of South Africa’s delegation to the W20 in 2025. She discusses some of the gains and setbacks the W20 experienced under this year’s South African presidency.
What were the priorities of the 2025 G20 working group on women?
This year, the W20 organised work around interconnected thematic areas. These were: entrepreneurship and financial inclusion; the care economy; women in science, technology, engineering and maths; health equity; climate justice; and violence against all women and girls.
