An Angolan woman, displaced for years by fighting in Uige province, brings home material to fix her roof.

Photo: Paul Jeffrey/ACT

Women & Children

Women and children are the world’s most vulnerable majority. Seventy percent of those who suffer from hunger worldwide are women and girls. As a result of hunger, one child out of every seven dies each year before reaching the age of five. Many children are forced to work at an early age in unconscionable conditions, deprived of basic education.

Sixty to 80 percent of farmers in the developing world are women. Yet they own only a fraction of the world’s farmland, and many spend a third of their lifetimes fetching water and firewood. Women also suffer gender-based discrimination and violence, in war and peace. Along with children, many are frequently trafficked for sexual exploitation.

Four of the Millennium Development Goals address the needs of women and children, aiming for specific targets in universal primary education, gender equality and the empowering of women, the reduction of child mortality and the improvement of maternal health.

CWS joins over 100 organizations in calling for a US Presidential Initiative on basic education in developing countries.

Peace & Justice News
CWS celebrates International Women's Day 2008 (03/08)

Resources on Women and Children

	"Woman at the Well" ornament and card This olive wood ornament is produced in partnership with the Middle East Council of Churches. The card has a picture of the ornament, a description of a water cistern program sponsored by CWS, and information on the water crisis in the West Bank and worldwide. The card also provides education and advocacy opportunities. Order online »
	Twice As Thirsty: Women, Children and Water (PDF file, 741 kb) A 4-page resource paper, part of the CWS series on water. Order online »

Read more about Church World Service projects that support women and children.