When women thrive, all of society benefits, and succeeding generations are given a better start in life.
			Kofi Annan

In a world where women produce half the globe’s food, yet make up 70% of the one billion people who are hungry, work two thirds of the working hours yet receive only 5% of the worlds income and own 1% of the world’s property, it is clear that there is a long way to go before we achieve widespread equality between the sexes.

Millennium Development Goal 3 promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women, recognising that sustainable growth and development can only come about when everyone, men and women, are participating fully in matters that affect their lives.

Research has shown that women are more likely to spend their income on household expenses – including food, doctors and education. It has been proven that an increase in women’s income correlates with an improvement in children’s health.

But women often suffer multiple layers of disadvantage. Two thirds of the millions of people who cannot read and write are women and girls are less likely to complete a primary school education. Women are often dispossessed of land, money and rights and have to depend upon their relationships with men to provide a livelihood.

Caritas Australia, by supporting women in the creation of income generation projects are helping women change their status in society and gain control over their own destiny.

Fact 1: Women produce half the globe’s food, make up 70% of the one billion people who are hungry, work two thirds of the working hours yet receive only 5% of the worlds income and own only 1% of the world’s property.

Fact 2: Millennium Development Goal 3 seeks to promote gender equality and empower women.

Fact 3: Fifteen hundred women die each day while giving birth which means that half a million women die each year from complications that are largely preventable.

Be Active: Host a community event for International Women’s Day (March 8).

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