For Women’s Day, UN Women is highlighting the importance of investing in women. Doing so helps create a future where everyone in society can thrive, creating a world of boundless opportunity and empowerment for all.
Lucky Iron Life remains committed to tackling gender inequality, especially in the context of improved access to health and nutrition. Having adequate nutrition and food is a fundamental right. It is also worth noting here that nutrition underscores all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as Zero Hunger, Gender Equality, No Poverty, Good Health and Well-Being, and more.
Investing in women and girls just makes sense, both socially and economically. A recent McKinsey report revealed that closing the current health gap between men and women could add $1 trillion to the global economy.
Yet, women’s health has been chronically underfunded and under-researched resulting in women living in poorer health than men, for longer periods, most specifically during their working years (between 20 and 60). According to a new report, Closing the Women’s Health Gap, from the World Economic Forum, while women may live longer than men, on average, they spend 25% more of their lives in debilitating health.
At Lucky Iron Life, we recognize that progress for women benefits us all. Specifically, investing in their health creates a long term positive impact on their education and their ability to participate fully in the workforce. Evidence has also demonstrated that investing in women yields higher returns across multiple facets of society, as women are more likely to invest back into their communities and their families. For example, it is estimated that more than half of all reductions in child stunting from 1970 to 1995 can be attributed to increases in women’s status.
When we invest in gender equity, we can substantially improve social, economic, and health outcomes for everyone. We echo UN Women’s statement that empowering women’s and girls’ rights across all aspects of life is the only way to secure prosperous and just economies, and to secure a healthy planet for future generations. We will only accelerate true progress when we invest in women.
