A new report from UN Women highlights the situation of women and girls around the world. Too many of them lack access to financial support and healthcare, making them more vulnerable to poverty. Let’s discover together why it’s important to take action!
Did you know that two billion women and girls have no access to any form of social protection? This is a very concerning number, especially since women are often more affected by poverty. This report, released for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, shows that the gap between men and women in terms of social protection is widening.
Women aged 25 to 34 are 25% more likely to live in extreme poverty than men. Conflicts and climate change make the situation even harder. Women living in fragile environments are 7.7 times more likely to be in this situation.
Unfortunately, despite progress in some countries, only 18% of new social protection measures have been designed to help women. This means their needs are often overlooked.
Another worrying situation is that of women giving birth. Worldwide, more than 63% of them do not have access to maternity benefits. This lack of support can harm their health and that of their children, perpetuating poverty from one generation to the next.
Fortunately, there are also positive examples! In Mongolia, maternity benefits have been extended to informal workers, and in Senegal, health insurance has adapted to better support rural women.
Sarah Hendriks from UN Women states, « For social protection to truly help women, we must place them at the center of decision-making. » This is a call to action for a better future for all girls and women!
