The actual effects of these new laws and codes have yet to emerge with as much optimism as that with which they were enacted, however. At the same time, it cannot be denied that there have been some noticeable positive changes made due to changes in policies and codes in many countries. One of the major changes that has been both a result and a cause of increased equality for women -- and one that directly impacts economic productivity -- is the advent of micro-credit loans. Government support for such loans and the institutions that make them has shifted hugely in terms of finances and policy, according to the report, and programs that promote literacy, family life education and reproductive health as well as business ventures have been effective recipients (59). This type of loan is only achievable due to changes in social policy and general equality in the countries where such loans are having the biggest effects.

The statement, "the UN report is an attempt to underscore what the costs of inequality are, what has kept it in place in the past and what's being done to address it now," is a tacit way of reminding readers that these problems are not new and should not be surprising to anyone moderately apprised of world conditions. The fact that the report is meant to "underscore"...

It also reflects the incomplete nature of the reports information; despite its extensiveness, there are undoubtedly many specific issues in specific countries that want uncovered. Likewise, efforts to establish equality and healthier conditions for women worldwide should not be limited to the methods established in the report, and the latter portion of the statement explicitly establishes that this report only comments on current solutions.
There are many things that can be done to address the inequalities that women face worldwide. One of the most essential would be massive education campaigns; it is a simple fact that the countries that marginalize women are dominated by cultures that also marginalize their importance and value. These cultural attitudes and beliefs will need to be addressed and shifted before reform efforts will really be able to take hold and take effect. The continued use f honor killings despite their illegality in some countries, as well as domestic abuse instances in developed countries (including many murders), both illustrate a deep-seated misogyny. If this problem is not first corrected, there will always be an inherent inequality between the two genders built on sheer physical force and violence.