WASHINGTON (Sept. 17, 2025)--According to a recent UN report an estimated 351 million women and girls will face extreme poverty within 5 years, if nothing is done. The report says women’s health advances have been hindered by political inaction, gender inequality and other barriers but outlines a way nations can reverse those trends.
The report also notes that 64 million more women than men are food insecure and says anemia rates in women age 15-49 are expected to rise to 33% in 2030.
In 2024, 676 million women and girls lived close to a deadly conflict zone, a problem that can lead to many health problems including the risk of displacement and gender violence.
On the good news side, the report notes that maternal mortality fell by more than 39% from 2000 to 2023.
In addition, more girls than boys are enrolling in and completing school.
The George Washington University has experts available to talk about the trends identified in the UN report. To schedule an interview please reach out to Kathy Fackelmann, kfackelmann
gwu [dot] edu (kfackelmann[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Mary Ellsberg, Executive Director of the Global Women’s Institute at the George Washington University is available to discuss gender inequality as well as violence against women and girls. Ellsberg has more than 30 years of experience in international programs on gender and development. Her deep connection to global gender issues stems not only from her academic work but from living in Nicaragua for nearly 20 years, leading public health and women’s rights advocacy. Ellsberg was a member of the World Health Organization’s Multi-Country Study on Domestic Violence and Women’s Health.
Amita N. Vyas, is an associate professor at the GW Milken Institute School of Public Health and Director of the Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health. She can discuss worldwide maternal morality rates and the links between school attendance and health for girls.