Growing Inequality Mars 20 Years of Women’s Progress

This report gives us the leverage to take things to the next level, where women, girls and young people will be central to the next development agenda.” -- Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin “We must work with governments to address issues of inequality, which is I think the greatest determinate in terms of the MDGs,” Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), told IPS. “We expect that as we move into the post-2015 conversation, the evidence we have today will ensure that member states will see that if they are going to make progress…we must put people at the centre of development.” Since 1994, the year of the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo when 179 governments committed to a 20-year Programme of Action to deliver human rights-based development, UNFPA has identified significant achievements with regard to women’s rights and effective family planning, but also a dramatic increase in inequality. Maternal mortality has dropped by almost 50 percent and more women than ever before have access to both contraception and family planning mechanisms, supporting a decrease in child mortality. Furthermore, women are increasingly accessing education, participating in the work force and engaged in the political process. Nevertheless, a gross disparity remains between the developed and developing worlds. In a press conference, Dr. Babatunde indicated that while the global average likelihoo...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tags: Development & Aid Education Featured Gender Gender Identity Gender Violence Headlines Health Human Rights Labour Population Poverty & MDGs United Nations Women & Economy Women's Health World Inequality International Centr Source Type: news