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Why Women?

Everywhere in the world, women face social, cultural, and economic barriers to equality.

1 in 3

women say they’ve experienced physical or sexual assault.

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70%

of all people living in poverty are women and girls.

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Only 22%

of the world’s political leaders are women.

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This is true even in the United States...

Only 24% of Congress members are women. Women make almost 20 percent less money than men. 1 in 6 women report being stalked to the point of fearing harm to themselves or someone they love.

Barriers to social, cultural, and economic equality are even more extreme for ultra-poor women in conflict-affected countries.

With less than $1.25 a day to live on, women struggle to fill basic needs, like food and shelter. Banks, schools and hospitals can be hours or days away. On top of this, women in conflict-affected countries bear the brunt of sexual and gender-based violence. They aren't safe even in their own homes and experience high rates of intimate partner violence or even domestic violence from their fathers or in-laws.

When we say that the women we serve live in some of the worst places on earth to be a woman, we mean it.

Here’s why:

In northeast Nigeria, child marriage is common: 3 out of 4 girls are married before they turn 18. About 3 out of 5 women who have been married in the Democratic Republic of the Congo experienced violence from their husband or partner. More than 70% of women and girls have had their genitals mutilated in northern Iraq.

This must change—and it can—but only if we invest in women and their power.

Here is what happens when we invest in women:

There’s more food

If women had the same access to agricultural resources as men farmers, we could feed 150 million more people.

There’s more peace and stability

When women play an active role in peace negotiations, agreements are more likely to last.

Families are stronger

90 percent of women’s income gets reinvested in their families as opposed to only 40 percent of men’s income.

Countries are richer

For every 10 percent more girls who go to school, a country’s GDP can be expected to go up an average of 3 percent.

When women can use their power, they reinvest it in their families, their communities, and their countries to make the whole world better — for everyone.

Investing in women is the smart thing to do. And more importantly, it’s the right thing to do.

You Can Create a Ripple Effect

Your monthly gift of $35 provides a woman with skills to support her family and creates sustainable change.

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