Two Billion Women Lack Access to Social Protection, UN Women Report Reveals
A recent UN Women report highlights a staggering global crisis: two billion women and girls are without access to any form of social protection, exacerbating their vulnerability to poverty.
As the world approaches the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on October 17, the UN report underscores the widening gender gap in social protection policies, which include cash benefits, healthcare, and pensions.
Despite some progress since 2015, disparities in coverage have increased, particularly in developing regions, where recent gains have largely favored men. Women aged 25 to 34 are 25% more likely than their male counterparts to live in extreme poverty, a situation worsened by conflicts and climate change. Women in fragile environments face an alarming 7.7 times greater risk of extreme poverty compared to those in stable areas. The ongoing inflation crisis has disproportionately impacted women, with only 18% of nearly 1,000 social protection measures adopted globally targeting women’s economic security.
The report also highlights a dismal state of maternity protection, revealing that over 63% of women globally give birth without access to maternity benefits, a figure that soars to 94% in sub-Saharan Africa. This lack of support not only places women at a financial disadvantage but also jeopardizes their health and well-being, perpetuating cycles of poverty.
However, there are glimmers of hope. Countries like Mongolia and Senegal are making strides, extending maternity leave benefits to informal workers and enhancing health insurance services for rural women, respectively. UN Women emphasizes the need for policies that center the dignity and empowerment of women and girls to harness the potential of social protection for achieving gender equality and resilience.
