Theresa May has said it is "essential" that women's rights are supported as she addressed an International Women's Day reception in Downing Street.
The Prime Minister heralded the steps made towards equality, but claimed that there was "still more to do".
She said: "When a girl is safe, healthy and educated, when society values her as an equal, and when she has control over her own body and decisions... When she can choose when and how many children to have, where she has the information and support and resources to earn a decent income - women and girls thrive, poverty is reduced, society is more stable and everyone benefits.
"Let me be clear: addressing gender equality and supporting women's rights is not a nice-to-have, it's essential."
Mrs May told the women and men from a range of sectors at the reception inside Number 10 that the country had "made some huge progress in recent years" tackling gender equality, and now has "more women on the boards of our biggest companies, more women in Parliament, more girls taking science, technology, engineering and maths".
However she confessed that despite taking Physics and Maths A-levels, she was left feeling "very frightened" by the whiteboards on a recent visit to King's College London Mathematical School.
"We've now got the lowest gender pay gap on record and more women in work than ever before, but of course, while it's right to celebrate those achievements, there is still more to do."
She said the requirement, as of next month, for employers to publish their gender pay and gender bonus gap would "shine a light" on where there is a difference between the sexes and "encourage" employers to tackle the issue.
Mrs May also praised Chancellor Philip Hammond's budget announcement of £5 million for 'returnships' - which the Prime Minister said would predominantly support women get back into work - as well as his additional funding to support organisations working to combat domestic violence and abuse.
"Working together across government, across business, across civil society we will continue to improve the lot of women and girls at all stages of life to ensure they are safer, healthier, educated and empowered," she said.
"We will continue to do this of course not just at home but abroad as well."
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