Breaking the Barriers - Women and the Elimination of World Poverty (DFID, 1999, 24 p.): Education and health: (introduction...)

Breaking the Barriers - Women and the Elimination of World Poverty (DFID, 1999, 24 p.)

Education and health

		*(introduction...)*
		EDUCATION
		HEALTH

(introduction...)

Almost two out of every three illiterate people are women. The world's poor women are more than 100 times more likely to die of causes related to pregnancy and childbirth than women in Europe.

Our commitment to improving education and health services for women was demonstrated by the Prime Minister's pledge at the 1997 Denver Summit to double our expenditure in health, education, and clean water in Africa by the year 2000.

Gender and Human Development

We are clear about some basic principles:

· girls and women should have opportunities for personal growth, security, realisation of rights, control of fertility and health, literacy and opportunities to participate in political and economic systems...
· human development means confronting poverty, ensuring that all men and women have the basic requirements for life-education, basic health care, and clean water
· sustainable human development means enabling people to have opportunities to secure their economic needs through access to assets, markets, and economic institutions which are efficient and properly regulated so that the poor can work and prosper

Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development. Speech at the UK launch of the UNDP Human Development Report, June 1997.