Unicef UK urges the international community to eliminate gender inequality to ensure better quality healthcare for women and girls
As The Lancet launches its new Series on Gender Equality, Norms and Health, which finds that governments and health institutions have persistently failed to make progress towards gender equality, UNICEF is calling on the international community to work together to eliminate gender inequality.
Statement from Pauline Castres, Senior Health Policy Advisor:
“It is deeply concerning that over 300,000 women and girls continue to die every year from complications in pregnancy and childbirth. Almost all of these deaths occur in underfunded healthcare services, and most could have been prevented.
“Health systems must address urgent threats to women and girl’s health, as well as considering how quality prevention and treatment can ensure women and girls thrive in the long-term. UNICEF is working globally to promote women and girls’ health, including nutrition, menstrual hygiene, HIV and pregnancy prevention and care, as well as building health workforces that advance women as professionals to ensure greater gender equality.
“The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that every child has the right to the best possible health. Unicef UK urges the international community to work together to eliminate gender inequality so that we can meet the Sustainable Development Goal of healthy lives for all of the world’s population by 2030.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
For more information, please contact:
Unicef UK Media Team, 0207 375 6030, [email protected]
Emily Craigie, 0207 375 6058, [email protected]
About Unicef
Unicef is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
Unicef UK raises funds to protect children in danger, transform their lives and build a safer world for tomorrow’s children. As a registered charity we raise funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and we lobby and campaign to keep children safe. Unicef UK also runs programmes in schools, hospitals and with local authorities in the UK.
For more information please visit unicef.org.uk