Because the world prepares to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on 17 October, UN Women launched a report highlighting the widening gender hole in social safety.
The report reveals that an alarming two billion ladies and ladies are with out entry to any type of social safety.
Regardless of some progress since 2015, gender disparities in social safety protection have widened in most growing areas, suggesting that latest beneficial properties have disproportionately benefitted males. That is placing in danger progress in the direction of Sustainable Growth Objective 5 (SDG 5)
Rising burden of gendered poverty
The report paints a stark image of gendered poverty, exhibiting that ladies and ladies are overrepresented among the many poor at each stage of life, with the biggest disparities seen throughout their childbearing years.
Girls aged 25 to 34 are 25 per cent extra probably than males in the identical age group to dwell in excessive poverty. Battle and local weather change proceed to exacerbate this inequality, with ladies in fragile environments being 7.7 instances extra more likely to dwell in excessive poverty in comparison with these in secure areas.
Moreover, the excessive charges of inflation since 2022 have pushed up meals and power costs, hitting ladies notably exhausting. But, out of practically 1,000 social safety measures adopted by governments throughout 171 international locations within the months that adopted, solely 18 per cent focused ladies’s financial safety, the report reveals.
This highlights how gender-specific dangers and vulnerabilities are sometimes uncared for within the aftermath of shocks.
Dismal state of maternity safety
Globally, over 63 per cent of girls nonetheless give delivery with out entry to maternity advantages, with the determine reaching 94 per cent in sub-Saharan Africa.
This lack of monetary assist throughout maternity go away, not solely locations ladies at an financial drawback, but in addition compromises their well being and well-being in addition to that of their youngsters, perpetuating poverty throughout generations.
Examples of progress
Nonetheless, there are promising examples of progress. In Mongolia, maternity go away advantages have been prolonged to casual staff, equivalent to herders and the self-employed. Paternity go away has additionally been strengthened to assist gender equality in caregiving tasks.
In Senegal, the Nationwide Well being Insurance coverage scheme has expanded its providers to higher meet the wants of rural ladies, with support from UN Women.
“The potential of social safety for gender equality, resilience and transformation is gigantic. To harness this, we have to centre the dignity, company and empowerment of girls and ladies at each stage of the method – from coverage and programme design to supply and financing,” emphasised Sarah Hendriks, Director of the Coverage, Programme and Intergovernmental Division at UN Girls.