Overall, Central and Southern Asia as a region is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030, the latest assessment by UN Women revealed. Across the region, out of 18 indicators for the SDGs, only one has met the target.

“We need bold action to close data gaps and accelerate progress,” the UN agency said.

Progress on SDG 5 is measured using 9 targets, made up of 18 indicators and sub-indicators.

Assessment by the UN shows that 13 percent of the indicators that are used to assess progress are ‘very far’ from the targets set out under SDG 5. 15 percent are ‘far from target’, which means that over a quarter are ‘far or very far’ from the targets set for 2030.