Eighty-five percent of countries around the world are improving gender equality ratios, according to The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2011, but the remaining 15 percent are seeing them decline. The report shows that globally, gender gaps have decreased – particularly in the areas of health and education – but significant gaps persist in economic opportunity and political empowerment.

To discuss the findings of this report and their global implications the Council of Women World Leaders hosted the Washington, D.C. launch of the Global Gender Gap Report 2011, featuring report co-author Saadia Zahidi, and Jeni Klugman, Director, Gender and Development, the World Bank.  The conversation was moderated by Laura Liswood, Secretary General of the Council.