UN reports 2B women, girls globally lack access to any form of social protection
Date
10/16/2024 6:07:20 AM
(MENAFN) A staggering 2 billion women and girls worldwide lack access to any form of social protection, according to a report released by UN Women on Tuesday. The report, titled "World Survey on the Role of Women in Development 2024," highlights the growing gender gap in social protection systems, which encompass various policies, including cash benefits, unemployment protection, pensions, and healthcare. This gap leaves women and girls increasingly vulnerable to poverty and its associated challenges.
While social protection levels have seen some improvement since 2015, the report reveals that gender disparities in coverage have widened across most developing regions. This suggests that recent gains in social protection have disproportionately benefited men, further entrenching inequalities. As the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty approaches on October 17, the findings underscore the urgent need for policies that specifically address the needs of women and girls, who continue to face significant barriers in accessing essential services.
The report also highlights the alarming statistic that over 63 percent of women globally give birth without any maternity benefits. This figure rises to a staggering 94 percent in sub-Saharan Africa, where the absence of financial support during maternity leave not only places women at an economic disadvantage but also jeopardizes their health and well-being, as well as that of their children. The lack of maternity protection perpetuates a cycle of poverty that can affect families for generations.
The findings paint a stark picture of the gendered nature of poverty, revealing that women and girls are overrepresented among the impoverished at every stage of life. Notably, women aged 25-34 are 25 percent more likely to live in extremely poor households compared to their male counterparts in the same age group. The report indicates that factors such as conflict and climate change exacerbate these inequalities, with women in fragile contexts being 7.7 times more likely to experience extreme poverty than those in more stable environments. These insights call for urgent action to create inclusive social protection systems that can effectively address the needs of women and girls and help lift them out of poverty.
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