The reasons why women need to be helped

A few damning figures on the situation of women in the world

• maternal death is 200 times higher in Africa than in Europe
• 62% of illiterates are women
• 10% of income generated in Africa go to women, they only own 2% of the lands and receive less than 5% of bank loans, yet they do 66% of working hours and produce 50% of national wealth.
• 25 million micro loans are granted to women, 95% of whom pay back their debts

We promote equality between women and men or gender equality, so as to achieve equal participation of women and men in decision making, we support women and girls so that they can fully exercise their rights, thereby reducing the gap between women's and men's access to and control of resources as well as the benefits of development, all of which being still out of reach for most women worldwide.

Women still have fewer rights, lower education and health status, less income, and less access to resources and decision-making than men. Nevertheless, women's roles in food production, income generation, management of natural resources, community organization and domestic responsibilities are essential to a sustainable development.

If equitable and sustainable progress is to be achieved, the status of women must be improved, their rights respected, and their contribution fully recognized.