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| JCI and the UN MDGS: Promoting Equality and Women’s Health |
A Burkina Faso resident and her son benefit from JCI\\\'s support for young mothers.
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To celebrate International Women’s Day, JCI takes a look at UN Millennium Development Goals 3 and 5 and how empowering women is key to global development.
At the 2003 JCI Leadership Summit at the United Nations, JCI committed to addressing many issues facing the world, including gender equality and maternal health. With only five years until the 2015 target deadline, action is needed now more than ever.
Despite limited progress in gender equality and maternal health, both developing and developed nations continue to struggle. While many women across the world enjoy opportunities that were unavailable just a generation ago, the facts show a greater disparity and danger than many acknowledge.
MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women- Of 113 countries failing to achieve parity in primary and secondary school enrollment, only 18 are expected to achieve gender equality in enrollment by 2015.
- Females account for 55% of the unenrolled school-age population.
- Currently, women hold less than 18% of parliamentary seats.
MDG 5: Improve maternal health- One woman dies every minute of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth.
- More than 500,000 women die annually of such complications.
- 99% of pregnancy and childbirth complications-related deaths occur in developing countries.
- A woman’s risk of dying from pregnancy-related causes is almost 1 in 7 in Niger, compared to 1 in 17,400 in Sweden.
- Every year, more than 1 million children are left motherless because of maternal death.
- Motherless children are 10 times more likely to die prematurely than those whose mother lives.
Gender-based violence and maternal mortality cripple not only women and girls, but entire societies. Educating women and bringing them into the mainstream labor force is one of the best ways to end poverty, reduce violence and increase stability.
Helping Women Help Society
JCI Members can take action by designing projects to empower women or raise awareness of gender inequality in their communities. JCI Burkina Faso partnered with JCI Bern to open a center to support young mothers in Burkina Faso. This center worked to provide women with the education needed to begin new careers and support for raising their children in a challenging environment. Other efforts such as microfinancing for women also provide the financial means for women to lift their families out of poverty. Educational projects can aid women in developing the skills necessary to compete on equal grounds in the business environment.
Fighting for increased maternal healthcare is also an important way JCI Members can help. JCI Tunisia began a program to raise awareness of female cancers and highlighted the importance of pap-smears and other tests for early detection. Also, by supporting the UN Population Fund and its partners, who provide training to local medical personnel on effective family planning and midwifery, JCI Members can create impact on the ground in developing nations. Educating mothers on health issues and participating in JCI Nothing But Nets helps to prevent the deaths of mothers and children alike.
Read more about JCI Programs.
Read more about JCI’s commitment to the UN Millennium Development Goals.
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