Millions of women have been affected by the pandemic. The burden of care and stress has fallen on them, and the workload has multiplied due to confinement and the consequences of the health and social crisis. “But women were already at a disadvantage, because poverty is a female name,” says Fr Eusebio Muñoz, Head of “Misiones Salesianas”, the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid.
On the occasion of International Women's Day, yesterday, 8 March, the Mission Office denounced the injustices suffered by women around the world, which have increased in this pandemic year. At least seven out of ten hungry people in the world are women and the poverty rate, according to international organizations, will increase by more than 9% due to the pandemic and its consequences; 60% of children who do not go to school are girls; women contribute two thirds of the working hours, but have only 10% of the resources. “Not to mention the violence, discrimination, inequalities ... that women suffer for the mere fact of being women. Being born a woman means being more likely to live in poverty, to be marginalized and to be vulnerable to the violation of fundamental rights,” adds Fr Muñoz.
“Misiones Salesianas” has always worked to ensure that women have a voice and participate in decisions. And, to do this, education is one of the fundamental keys, able to overcome the differences between men and women. The life of a woman who has access to education is wholly different from those who are deprived of this universal right. An educated girl will marry later, have fewer children, better care and feed her family, and participate more actively in her community. The education of girls breaks the vicious circle of poverty. Women's education and economic independence are two key factors in achieving community development.
"Misiones Salesianas", together with the Salesians who work in more than 130 countries around the world, carry out initiatives to strengthen the role of women in their communities and facilitate access to education for girls and young women.
