Bloomberg Talks UN Women Deputy Executive Director Kirsi Madi Talks Gender Equality
Mar 10, 2026
Kirsi Madi, UN Assistant Secretary-General focused on gender equality and women's economic empowerment. She discusses the crisis for women in Afghanistan. She explores how gender equality is smart business. She outlines how childcare costs and care-sector jobs shape women's labor participation. She covers legal progress and enforcement around domestic violence and femicide.
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Afghanistan Is The Most Challenging Place For Women Today
- Afghanistan is identified as the most difficult place for women to live today.
- Kirsi Madi stresses focusing on opportunities and progress elsewhere despite acute crises like Afghanistan.
Gender Equality Drives Better Business Performance
- Gender equality is both a human right and smart business, boosting governance and long-term economic performance.
- Kirsi Madi cites companies investing in equal opportunities as showing stronger governance and better economic outcomes.
Care Responsibilities Keep 700 Million Women Out Of Work
- Over 700 million working-age women are out of the labor market due to unequal care responsibilities.
- Kirsi Madi says this represents huge untapped economic potential if care roles and jobs in the care sector are expanded.