Economic Impact of Gender Equality - Gender equality in the workforce could add $28 trillion to the global GDP by 2025 [2] - 24 billion women still lack equal economic opportunities due to legal barriers in 178 countries [3] - Investing in women's education leads to better job opportunities and greater financial independence [8] Case Study: Japan's Womenomics - Womenomics, an economic strategy to boost the economy through increased female workforce participation, became a national strategy in Japan [4] - Japan implemented policies to increase women's leadership roles, childcare support, and work-life balance [6] - Many women were pushed into low-paying, part-time jobs with limited career advancement [7] - Policies alone are insufficient; structural and cultural changes are necessary [7] Call to Action - 119 million girls worldwide are out of school [13] - Investing in women changes generations and communities and promotes gender equality [14] - The real question is not whether we can afford to invest in women, but how much longer we can afford not to [14]