Our work on women's rights

Women around the world are more likely to live in poverty, simply because they are women. Women’s unequal position in society means they have less power, money, protection from violence and access to education and healthcare.

Despite these injustices, women everywhere are standing up to claim their rights and to fight poverty. ActionAid sets high priority on women’s rights because we believe that gender inequality, in and of itself, is an injustice we must fight.  

ActionAid funds projects around the world which support women to claim their rights, and we also campaign for change. In the UK, we have made progress in putting poverty in the political agenda, now it is time to focus on women’s rights. ActionAid is calling on the UK government to put women’s rights at the forefront of the fight against poverty.

ActionAid strives to support people living in poverty to claim their rights, as the best way to empower themselves and fight poverty. Women’s rights inform all our work. For example, because women do not have equal rights to own land in many countries, they are more likely to be denied their right to food.

Around the world ActionAid works with women to fight for their rights. The struggle for women’s rights is global. Women in every society have for centuries been fighting for their rights. ActionAid is privileged to work with and support these women. 

photo : ©Gideon Mendel/ Corbis/ ActionAid