The British government has announced two multi-million pound initiatives to improve the lives of women in the developing world.
British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said that a massive £350 million would be invested into the Girls Education Challenge, which could assist up to a million girls in the poorest parts of Africa and Asia.
The investment is enough to give either 650,000 girls six years of primary education or a million older girls a junior secondary education, for three years.
“Women and girls continue to bear the brunt of poverty,” said Clegg.
“Investing in them early on and giving them an education not only radically alters their lives but has a massive knock on effect, benefiting their families and communities.
“Girls who have been to school are likely to do significantly better financially, socially and be far healthier.”
In addition, further funding would be poured into a separate project in the hope of preventing the deaths of more than 7,000 pregnant women in South Africa and Uganda.
Christian Aid Director Loretta Minghella welcomed this news.
“Continued gender discrimination is the most prevalent inequality of our time. More than 70 per cent of today’s poor are women and girls. Strong measures to combat such an iniquitous situation are hugely welcome,” she said.
“Access to education is essential to give girls more opportunities for their future, and access to family planning is crucial in helping women take control of their bodies.
“Christian Aid’s experience in many countries, however, shows that in order for societies to reap the benefits of gender equality, investment must also be made in civil society organisations that will hold governments accountable to everyone affected by their decisions.
“We hope sufficient funds are also targeted towards making that a reality.”