{"id":25450,"date":"2015-03-08T00:01:14","date_gmt":"2015-03-08T00:01:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.one.org\/international\/?post_type=one_press&p=25450"},"modified":"2015-03-08T00:01:14","modified_gmt":"2015-03-08T00:01:14","slug":"poverty-is-sexist-how-women-and-girls-can-and-must-lead-the-fight-to-end-extreme-poverty","status":"publish","type":"one_press","link":"https:\/\/www.one.org\/ca\/press\/poverty-is-sexist-how-women-and-girls-can-and-must-lead-the-fight-to-end-extreme-poverty\/","title":{"rendered":"Poverty is Sexist: How women and girls can and must lead the fight to end extreme poverty"},"content":{"rendered":"

Meryl Streep, Beyonc\u00e9, Sheryl Sandberg, Lady Gaga, Angelique Kidjo join international women in call for world leaders to take urgent action for women\u2019s empowerment<\/em>
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\nChristine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, will make the economic case for gender equality with ONE in\u00a0 a live video linkup at the Southbank Centre\u2019s WOW –\u00a0 Women of the World Festival<\/em><\/p>\n

Girls and women are hit hardest by extreme poverty across every area of life, but they also hold the key to change, according to new analysis published by ONE today, International Women\u2019s Day. ONE\u2019s report, \u201cPoverty is Sexist: Why girls and women must be at the heart of the fight to end extreme poverty\u201d shows how unlocking women\u2019s economic potential could improve the lives of everyone in society, and highlights how two summits hosted by two world-leading women this year represent an historic opportunity to turn things around.<\/p>\n

Meryl Streep, Beyonc\u00e9, Lada Gaga and Angelique Kidjo are among 36 influential women backing ONE\u2019s campaign for world leaders to put girls and women centre stage in 2015, a year when world leaders must agree new global goals to set the development agenda for a generation.<\/p>\n

The report will be unveiled at the Southbank Centre\u2019s WOW – Women of the World Festival in a live video link up with Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, who will close out the festival by making the economic case for gender equality across the globe. Christine Lagarde will be joined by Radio 1 presenter Gemma Cairney and ONE\u2019s Global Policy Director Eloise Todd in a discussion chaired by Jude Kelly CBE Artistic Director of the Southbank Centre.<\/p>\n

President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf called on her fellow leaders to act now, and said:<\/p>\n

Poverty is sexist: I see it all the time, too often women and girls are worst hit by poverty and left to carry its burdens. But investing in them is also so often the solution. So let\u2019s deliver for women because women deliver. This year through the AU and G7 Summits on women’s empowerment, through the Addis Ababa financing summit and through the new Global Goals to be launched in New York, lets ensure that investing in women and girls is central to the strategy, and lets call upon a generation of women around the world to unite for this essential and transformative call to action.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, who has signed the open letter, said:<\/p>\n

When it comes to poverty, everyone suffers \u2014 women and men, girls and boys. But the crushing blow of poverty often falls heavier on females due to the stereotypes and legal shortcomings that stack the deck against them in so many nations.<\/p>\n

I embrace this campaign to put empowering women at the heart of global anti-poverty efforts. Mothers invest in their daughters and sons, and make their communities stronger. If we get this right for women, everyone will be better off.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Poverty and gender inequality go hand in hand, whether you look at health, education or work. Not only are girls and women worse off than those in wealthier countries, but the gender gap in these areas between males and females is greatest in the poorest countries. This double disadvantage means that:<\/p>\n