Despite growing global recognition of culture as a public good, significant gender gaps remain across the cultural and creative sectors. Women often make up the majority of students in culture‑related fields and hold many roles within the sector, yet they continue to encounter barriers throughout their careers. These include unequal access to cultural participation, limited representation in leadership positions, lower visibility and recognition, pay and funding disparities, and high exposure to harassment and gender‑based violence. Current data underlines this imbalance: fewer than one‑third of national art prize winners and only a quarter of World Heritage site managers are women.
UNESCO’s new toolkit aims to address these challenges by embedding gender equality within cultural policy structures. It offers the first comprehensive, action‑oriented framework to help policymakers and cultural institutions strengthen rights‑based approaches that ensure everyone has the opportunity to access, participate in and contribute to cultural life.
Developed for use at national, regional and local levels, the toolkit is relevant to a wide range of cultural actors, including museums, heritage sites and cultural centres. It provides:
- Step‑by‑step guidance for integrating gender equality into cultural policies and strategies
- Real‑life case studies and scenarios demonstrating effective practices
- Actionable tools for identifying gaps, setting priorities and monitoring progress
- A rights‑based framework connecting gender equality with cultural participation and democratic inclusion
UNESCO emphasises that culture and gender equality are mutually reinforcing: culture cannot thrive without equality, and gender equality efforts are strengthened when integrated within cultural life. The toolkit encourages policymakers and cultural professionals to take practical steps toward creating cultural systems that are fair, inclusive and reflective of diverse experiences.
