Gender equality

Gender inequality is globally the most common form of inequality and remains a major obstacle to the eradication of poverty.

Humanitarian Action specifically focuses on gender equality to significantly reduce inequalities and empower people living in extreme poverty to improve their lives.

Across the world, millions of women and girls still do not have access to or control over resources and services that directly affect their daily lives. They live in fear of gender-based violence (GBV), are denied education, and have no say over decisions in their homes or the wider community.

If we imagine a world with gender parity, we will see more access to education for girls, higher literacy and numeracy rates for women and girls, lower maternal and infant mortality rates, more women in the workplace,  more women in leadership and more laws to support gender equality.

Gender equality is a key area of focus for all programs in livelihoods, health and education in both development and humanitarian contexts.