New Delhi, March 18 -- Shombi Sharp, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, emphasised the critical importance of gender equality, calling it the most vital issue in global development. In an interview with ANI, he stated, "Simply put, there is no more important issue than investing in gender equality worldwide, and India is no exception." Quoting UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, he reinforced the idea that "Gender equality is the unfinished business of our times."

Sharp highlighted the undeniable benefits of equal representation of women in decision-making: "We see the evidence is clear across the world - where women have equal representation in decision making, households prosper, communities prosper, business are more...